Dr David Billett is a deep-sea ecologist with over 40 years experience of working in the oceanic environment. He is a specialist in benthic (seabed) habitats, including mid-ocean ridges, abyssal sediments, seamounts, coral mounds, submarine canyons and continental slopes. He has particular expertise in the interactions between benthic and pelagic environments. Research interests include 1) the potential effects of climate change on deep-sea ecosystems, 2) distinguishing between natural and man-made change in the ocean, 3) the environmental management of offshore deep-water fisheries, oil and gas production and mineral mining, 4) the creation of regional spatial management plans and 5) the restoration of marine ecosystems.
There are now hundreds of wells for oil and gas resources in waters deeper than 200m worldwide. New developments are reaching depths in excess of 3000m (e.g. in the Gulf of Mexico). While Environmental Impact Assessments are required for each…