Dead Zones – Impacts on U.S. Waters

Dead Zones – Impacts on U.S. Waters

What are Dead Zones? Large areas of water where oxygen becomes so scarce that animals either flee (if they can) or suffocate Lingcod from Dead Zone in Hood Canal, Puget Sound Fish kill caused by Dead Zone in Corsica River, Chesapeake Bay

What are Dead Zones? Even when animals can flee, they often lose critical habitat where food is no longer available Fig. by Rochelle Seitz, VIMS Healthy bottom community with plenty of food for fish Dead Zone

Optimal fish & shrimp habitat in 1960’s 1997 Dead zone: devoid of bottom fish & shrimp Impacts of Hypoxia Loss of habitat can impact valuable commercial fisheries such as the $400 million/year Gulf of Mexico shrimp industry Pre-Hypoxia Fish Catch (1961-1965) Source: Kevin Craig, Duke

U.S. Coastal Dead Zones U.S. coastal systems reporting dead zones: Increased from 13 before 1960 to 250 as of 2008 Source: Bob Diaz, VIMS *No hypoxia in Hawaii or Alaska

Link to Cities: Nutrient Pollution • Sources of Nutrient Pollution: • Agriculture • Waste water • Storm water • Industry • Atmosphere Source: Chesapeake Bay Program http://www.chesapeakebay.net/nutrients.aspx?menuitem=14690

Video on Gulf of MexicoDead Zone • Video Showing how Nutrient Pollution Leads to the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone

Solution: Effective Management

NOAA Regional Approach Gulf of Mexico Chesapeake Bay Source: Nancy Rabalais, LUMCON Narragansett Bay Lake Erie Source: Brush et al. URI Source: Chesapeake Bay Program Source: IFYLE Program

Goal – Healthy Coastal Ecosystems

Dead Zones – Impacts on U.S. Waters