Gulf Of Mexico ‘Dead Zone’ Expands To 6,705 Square Miles, Becomes 12th Largest

NOAA-supported scientists announced that the Gulf of Mexico’s “dead zone” had expanded to around 6,705 square miles.

Gulf of Mexico’ is now the 12th largest zone measured in 38 years.

The area of minimal to no oxygen, where fish and other marine life struggle to survive, covers more than 4 million acres, or nearly the size of New Jersey.

Scientists from Louisiana State University took the measurements aboard the research vessel Pelican between July 21 and July 26.

The Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force relies heavily on this annual study to determine the Gulf’s health.

The dead zone’s average size over the last five years has been 4,298 square miles, more than doubling the target for 2035.

The dead zone is mostly caused by extra nutrients from the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin, which stimulate algae growth.

NOAA continues to improve understanding and prediction of dead zones through various efforts.