Map of measured Gulf low-oxygen or hypoxia zone from July 21 – July 26, 2024. Courtesy of Louisiana State University and the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium/LSU/NOAA
Why it matters: Large dead zones destroy habitat for species vital to both the Gulf ecosystem and the U.S. seafood and tourism industries.
Context: The recurring low-oxygen area, fueled by nutrient pollution from farms and cities in the Mississippi-Atchafalaya watershed, appears each summer and threatens marine life and coastal economies.