Monitoring strategies for drill cutting discharge in the vicinity of cold-water coral ecosystems

► Waste drill cutting discharge monitoring methodologies vary by nation, company and drilling event. ► There is inadequate real time monitoring of suspended material in the vicinity of cold-water coral reefs. ► Impacts on cold-water coral reef biology following drill cutting exposure is poorly understood. ► Periodic environmental events (e.g. coral spawning/algal blooming) need to be considered prior to drill cuttings release.