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 ( ) 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 Program Sources of Nutrient Pollution: Agriculture Waste water Storm water Industry Atmosphere

7 Video on Gulf of Mexico Dead 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