Study Says Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone to Reach the Size of New Jersey This Year

By THC Staff | June 23, 2017

 

For the past 32 years, scientists have monitored the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico where a lack of oxygen, human pollution, and overgrown algae have lead to marine animal deaths. This year, The Washington Post writes that the “National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that the annual dead zone will reach an area of nearly 8,200 square miles in July, more than 50 percent larger than its average size.”

The dead zone’s growth will most likely impact the life of fish and shrimp, making them change their eating habits and migration patterns. According to Weather.com, NOAA scientist Alan Lewitus said, “We’ve known for a long time that the hypoxic zone reduces fish and shrimp habitat dramatically. This is a real concrete, quantitative effect, which hits economies.”

The fishing industry’s economy will see changes due to the large dead zone. When dead zone areas grow, big shrimp are harder to come by, and smaller shrimp become easier to find, making the shrimping market shift significantly. “This could mean higher costs of large shrimp at the marketplace and an economic ripple effect on the Gulf shrimp fisheries,” Weather.com reports. It’s evident that scientists and politicians will have to work together to keep the Gulf of Mexico marine life and the economy surrounding it afloat.