1

Dead Zones – Impacts on U.S. Waters

2

What are Dead Zones?

Lingcod from Dead Zone in Hood Canal,

Puget Sound

Fish kill caused by Dead Zone in Corsica River,

Chesapeake Bay

Large areas of water where oxygen becomes so scarce that animals either flee (if they can) or suffocate

3

What are Dead Zones?

Fig. by Rochelle Seitz, VIMS

Even when animals can flee, they often lose critical habitat where food is no longer available

Healthy bottom community with plenty

of food for fish

Dead Zone

4

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

Optimal fish & shrimp habitat in 1960’s

1997 Dead zone: devoid of bottom fish & shrimp

5

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

6

Link to Cities: Nutrient Pollution

Source: Chesapeake Bay Programhttp://www.chesapeakebay.net/nutrients.aspx?menuitem=14690

Sources of Nutrient Pollution:

•Agriculture

•Waste water

•Storm water

•Industry

•Atmosphere

7

Video on Gulf of MexicoDead Zone

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

8

Solution: Effective Management

9

NOAA Regional Approach

Gulf of Mexico

Lake Erie

Chesapeake Bay

Source: IFYLE Program

Source: Chesapeake Bay Program

Source: Nancy Rabalais, LUMCON

Narragansett Bay

Source: Brush et al. URI

10

Goal – Healthy Coastal Ecosystems