So we know where not to bother fishing? Increase In 'Dead Zones' Starving The World's Seas It has arrived early; it's bigger than ever and it promises a summer of death and destruction. The annual "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico - starved of oxygen, and thus killing fish and underwater vegetation - has appeared earlier than usual this year. This is just one sign of a rapidly growing crisis. The number of similar dead zones in the world's seas has doubled every decade since 1960, as a result of increasing pollution. The United Nations Environment Programme says that there are now 146 of them worldwide, mainly around the coasts of rich countries. Its executive director, Klaus Töpfer, calls their growth "a gigantic, global experiment ... triggering alarming, and sometimes irreversible, effects". The Gulf of Mexico dead zone - which can cover more than 7,000 square miles - is mainly caused by fertilizers, flowing down rivers to the sea. Every year the Mississippi river - which drains 41 per cent of the United States - dumps 1.6 million tons of nitrogen in the gulf, three times as much as 40 years ago. Most comes from the highly productive corn belt, which helps to feed the world. The nutrients feed blooms of algae and phytoplankton. The algae drain oxygen from the water, as do the decomposing bodies of the plankton, when they fall to the seabed and die. http://news.independent.co.uk/world/environment/story.jsp?story=638531
Anyone know where to get a map of this?
- Thread starter Donald6441
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Dead Zone
DJ, I do not disagree that the pollution is pretty bad, but like many other organizations, the scientist kind of blow things a little out of proportion. The dead zone off the Mississippi river is very large. However it does not kill every living thing out there. The dead zone is actually closer to the bottom than is usually admitted. The upper part of the water column is basically not effected. Before you call me full of it, and not knowing what I am talking about, check out any of the salt water fishing pages on the net. Or do a search for Venice, La. or the midnight lump. This is a hump not far off the mouth of the Mississippi, and is known far and wide for it's excellent Tuna fishing. Also most of the charter boats out of New ORleans, Venice and Grand Isle fish the close in offshore oil rigs. This is just another case of some agency or other, stretching the truth a little to gain more publicity for their cause. But as I said, that does not mean that there is nothing wrong, or that nothing should be done.
DJ, I do not disagree that the pollution is pretty bad, but like many other organizations, the scientist kind of blow things a little out of proportion. The dead zone off the Mississippi river is very large. However it does not kill every living thing out there. The dead zone is actually closer to the bottom than is usually admitted. The upper part of the water column is basically not effected. Before you call me full of it, and not knowing what I am talking about, check out any of the salt water fishing pages on the net. Or do a search for Venice, La. or the midnight lump. This is a hump not far off the mouth of the Mississippi, and is known far and wide for it's excellent Tuna fishing. Also most of the charter boats out of New ORleans, Venice and Grand Isle fish the close in offshore oil rigs. This is just another case of some agency or other, stretching the truth a little to gain more publicity for their cause. But as I said, that does not mean that there is nothing wrong, or that nothing should be done.
MAP
You can find maps of this on the net. Not sure exactly where, but you should be able to do a search and find it pretty easy. More than likely on one of the NOAA sights. I looked at one last year, but haven't bothered so far this year.
You can find maps of this on the net. Not sure exactly where, but you should be able to do a search and find it pretty easy. More than likely on one of the NOAA sights. I looked at one last year, but haven't bothered so far this year.
NIce
The dead zone isn't there, it's over here near Texas (just east of Galveston). The river dumps it, but it gathers over here. Does it kill everything...I'm not sure, but it has moved the sharks closer to the Galveston shore because they are looking for food and can't find any/enough in the dead zone. As far as a map goes, 1) it's not near Florida so your safe 2) it seems to change every year so it's hard to create an accurate map.
The dead zone isn't there, it's over here near Texas (just east of Galveston). The river dumps it, but it gathers over here. Does it kill everything...I'm not sure, but it has moved the sharks closer to the Galveston shore because they are looking for food and can't find any/enough in the dead zone. As far as a map goes, 1) it's not near Florida so your safe 2) it seems to change every year so it's hard to create an accurate map.
Consider the Source
Consider the source; If you use this site you no doubt have a pleasure boat. That alone makes you an enemy of these hysterical "one world" types. Consider also; publicity = study grants=money. They would not survive if they said "We're doing pretty well but let's keep an eye on it". Drama and threats of doom are required! Since Rachel Carson's book this country and the free world have made huge strides in pollution control. Don't dump it overboard whatever it is, take care of your home waters and it will be all right!
Consider the source; If you use this site you no doubt have a pleasure boat. That alone makes you an enemy of these hysterical "one world" types. Consider also; publicity = study grants=money. They would not survive if they said "We're doing pretty well but let's keep an eye on it". Drama and threats of doom are required! Since Rachel Carson's book this country and the free world have made huge strides in pollution control. Don't dump it overboard whatever it is, take care of your home waters and it will be all right!
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