Hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Since 1985, scientists have been documenting a hypoxic zone, an area of low dissolved oxygen that cannot support marine life, in the Gulf of Mexico each year. Since marine species either die or flee the hypoxic zone, the spread of hypoxia reduces the available habitat for marine species, which are important for the ecosystem as well as commercial and recreational fishing in the Gulf. To address the hypoxia problem, the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force was formed to bring together representatives from federal agencies, states and tribes to consider options for responding to hypoxia. This book summarises major findings and recommendations with regard to hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.