From the Mississippi to the Gulf: Tackling the Dead Zone Crisis and Protecting Marine Ecosystem

Every summer, a dead zone forms in the Gulf of Mexico, an area so low in oxygen that fish and marine life cannot survive. Caused by nutrient runoff from the Mississippi River, this annual event impacts marine life and the economy, costing the U.S. seafood and tourism industries over $82 million a year. Scientists have measured dead zones as large as Delaware, and while some years are better due to changing winds, the underlying problem persists. Fishermen are forced to travel farther out to sea, spending more time and money to catch fish. Those that cannot move—like shellfish—die, leaving behind lifeless ocean floors.To fight this crisis, the EPA’s Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan aims to reduce the dead zone to less than 5,000 square kilometers by 2035. Solutions include reducing fertilizer runoff, restoring wetlands, and improving farming practices. Addressing the root cause—nutrient pollution—is critical to reversing the damage.