Latest Action · Oct 14, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Bill Progress
no tension its a net positive
Why it matters
Custom narrative
HR5745 would keep select offshore oil and gas platforms and pipelines in the water as artificial reefs, turning industrial leftovers into long-term fish habitat instead of hauling everything to shore. The bill, branded the Marine Fisheries Habitat Protection Act, updates the 1984 reef law and hands clearer authority to NOAA’s top ocean official to decide which structures stay and how they’re managed.
The big picture: Lawmakers across parties are quietly building a restoration economy that treats old infrastructure as an asset, not just a liability. A bipartisan bloc has rallied around large-scale watershed work, backing efforts like the Ohio River Restoration Act to finance cleanups and habitat projects along a major working river, and state-level plans to fund pollution fixes and resiliency projects across the Ohio River corridor. Rep. Troy Carter, one of HR5745’s co-sponsors, has already leaned into coastal and riverine restoration in his public messaging and press updates, positioning these bills as economic development as much as environmental policy. That framing lowers the partisan temperature and makes niche habitat bills easier to move.
Crypto and tech circles are obsessing over a separate, high-drama Senate bill, with online traders dissecting how a new proposal could reshape digital asset rules and market structure. HR5745 is the opposite vibe: low-key, technocratic, and designed to avoid big losers. It doesn’t rewrite drilling rules or expand leasing; it simply redefines “artificial reef,” clarifies NOAA’s role and lets regulators bless structures that demonstrably boost fish stocks and fishing opportunities. That’s why the tension is manufactured at best — the real action is in the details of which rigs qualify and how long they stay.
What This Bill Does
Lets retired oil and gas structures be used as artificial reefs
The bill updates the definition of an “artificial reef” so it clearly includes old offshore oil and gas platforms, pipelines, and their related equipment when they are left in the ocean to help fish and other sea life. In practice, this means that instead of always tearing these structures out, they can officially be treated as underwater habitat for fishing and marine life.
Creates a clear category for inactive oil and gas structures
The bill defines an “inactive structure” as an offshore oil or gas platform, pipeline, or related gear that is no longer useful for operations or is on a lease or right-of-way that has ended or been abandoned. This is like labeling old equipment as “retired,” which is the first step before deciding what to do with it.
Lets certain inactive structures be turned into permanent reefs instead of removed
The bill sets up a path for an “inactive structure” to be labeled an “eligible structure,” and then an “approved structure” that can be “reefed in place” instead of being fully removed. In everyday terms, it allows some old offshore equipment to stay in the water as fish habitat if federal officials sign off.
Defines what counts as an established reef ecosystem
The bill creates a formal definition for an “established reef ecosystem” as an area where reef-related species like corals, crabs, fish, and other sea life are already using the structure. This makes it easier for agencies to say, “Yes, this spot is already acting like a reef, so we can manage it that way.”
Clarifies who in the federal government is in charge of these reef decisions
The bill spells out that the head of NOAA (the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere) is the “Administrator,” and that a top official at the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement is the “Director.” This is basically saying who has the clipboard and the final say when deciding which structures can stay as reefs.
Expands what ‘decommissioning’ can mean for offshore oil and gas
The bill defines “decommissioning” to include either removing platforms and structures, leaving approved ones in place as reefs, or doing a mix of both, as long as laws are followed. Instead of having only one default option—rip everything out—it makes leaving some structures for fish habitat a recognized, legal option.
Who Benefits
Offshore oil and gas companies
They gain a clearer and possibly cheaper option for shutting down old platforms and pipelines by being allowed to leave some in place as reefs instead of paying to remove everything. The rules tell them exactly how a structure can be approved as a reef, which reduces uncertainty when planning decommissioning.
Commercial and recreational fishers
They benefit from more consistent and possibly expanded fish habitat around old offshore structures that are turned into reefs, which can attract fish and support fishing opportunities. The bill makes those structures officially recognized as places that enhance fishing, not just leftover industrial hardware.
Coastal communities that rely on fishing and marine tourism
Communities near offshore oil and gas areas could see more stable fish populations and more attractive sites for fishing and possibly diving. That can translate into more business for charter boats, bait shops, and other local services tied to healthy marine life.
Federal marine and safety agencies (NOAA and BSEE)
They get clearer legal definitions and roles, which makes it easier to coordinate decisions about what to remove and what to keep as reefs. This can streamline their work and reduce fights over who is responsible for which part of the process.
Who's Affected
Companies that own or operate offshore oil and gas platforms and pipelines
They will need to decide, for each inactive structure, whether to seek approval to turn it into a reef or remove it entirely. Their decommissioning plans will now have to fit into these specific categories and go through the new approval steps spelled out in the updated law.
Federal regulators and staff at NOAA and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
They must apply the new definitions when reviewing structures and deciding which qualify as eligible and approved reefs. Their day-to-day work will involve more evaluation of ecological value (like whether an area has an established reef ecosystem) instead of viewing every old structure simply as something to be taken out.
Marine life around offshore oil and gas areas
Fish, corals, crabs, and other sea life will be affected because more structures may be left in the water as long-term habitat instead of being removed. That can change where species live and how dense reef communities become in those areas.
Recreational anglers and boaters using offshore waters
They may see more officially recognized reef spots where fishing is good around old platforms and pipelines that remain in place. They’ll likely adjust where they go to fish or dive based on which structures are kept as artificial reefs.
Cosponsors (4)
Recent Actions
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
What Changes in the Law
1 key amendments · 1 total changes
National Fishing Enhancement Act of 1984, Section 206 (33 U.S.C. 2105)
The prior text of Section 206 of the National Fishing Enhancement Act of 1984 (33 U.S.C. 2105), which contained the earlier set of definitions for terms used in that title (exact statutory language not reproduced in this bill).“SEC. 206. DEFINITIONS.
“In this title:
“(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘Administrator’ means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere in the Under Secretary’s capacity as Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“(2) ARTIFICIAL REEF.—The term ‘Artificial reef’ means a structure or facility and associated equipment and infrastructure which is located, constructed or placed in Covered Waters that enhances fishery resources and commercial and recreational fishing opportunities, including, without limitation, Approved Structures.
“(3) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘Director’ means the Principal Deputy Director Exercising the Delegated Authorities of the Director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.
“(4) DECOMMISSIONING.—For the purposes of this title, the term ‘Decommissioning’ means ending oil, gas, or sulphur operations on an offshore lease, right-of-way, or right-of-use and easement and returning the area subject to such lease, right-of-way, or right-of-use and easement to a condition that complies with applicable law, including, without limitation, Reefing in Place of Approved Structures, or removal of platforms and structures, or a combination thereof.
“(5) ESTABLISHED REEF ECOSYSTEM.—The term ‘established reef ecosystem’ means an area with identified reef-associated species, including species of corals, crustaceans, fish, or other marine life.
“(6) APPROVED STRUCTURE.—The term ‘approved structure’ means an Eligible Structure which the Secretary of the Interior has approved for Reefing in Place pursuant to Section 207(a)(5)(B).
“(7) ELIGIBLE STRUCTURE.—The term ‘eligible structure’ refers to an Inactive Structure that is determined eligible for Reefing in Place by the Director pursuant to Section 207(a)(3).
“(8) INACTIVE STRUCTURE.—The term ‘inactive structure’ means an oil or gas platform, structure, facility, pipeline, and associated equipment and infrastructure—
“(A) that either—
“(i) an Applicant determines is no longer useful for operations;
“(ii) is located on a lease, right of way, right of use and entry or other similar right that has expired, terminated, been relinquished or abandoned or is no longer …”What this means: The bill completely replaces the definitions section of the National Fishing Enhancement Act with new, more detailed definitions that explicitly cover decommissioned offshore oil and gas platforms and pipelines as potential artificial reefs and clarify which federal officials have authority over these reefing decisions.
Committees (1)
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