Scientists Warn "Dead Zone" in Gulf of Mexico Grows Larger Every Year

According to government scientists from NOAA, the annual Gulf of Mexico "dead zone," an area of oxygen-depleted water off the coastlines of Louisiana and Texas that is detrimental to sea life, is larger-than-usual this summer.

This year's zone covers around 6,334 square miles, a little more than the state of Connecticut. Based on statistics from the last five years, the average Gulf dead zone is roughly 5,380 square miles.

Lack of Oxygen to Support Marine Life

According to NOAA, the Hypoxia Task Force is speeding up progress in decreasing river pollution by encouraging collaboration among federal partners, states, farmers, and others. Officials noted several federally sponsored projects aimed at reducing fertilizer runoff and other pollution sources.

Mike Naig, Iowa's Secretary of Agriculture and the group's co-chairman stated in the statement that "each of the Hypoxia Task Force states is dedicated to exhibiting ongoing improvement toward the targets established in our state-level nutrient reduction programs."

"We know that improvements on the land lead to good changes in the water," he said, adding that "these investments help our local communities and our downstream neighbors."

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