Gulf Dead Zone Threatens Ocean Life | Jackson News

This summer, the Gulf of Mexico faces a dead zone the size of New Jersey — a suffocating patch of water where oxygen levels are too low for marine life to survive. Caused by nutrient pollution from farms and cities flowing down the Mississippi River, this annual ecological disaster triggers massive algae blooms that choke the water. While this year’s forecast is smaller than the record set in 2017, it’s still far above the 40-year average. Scientists and policymakers are racing to shrink it to under 2,000 square miles by 2035 — a goal that’s already showing progress in some states, with 20% pollution cuts. But weather swings can dramatically alter the size each year, and without more federal funding, experts warn the target may be out of reach. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/fe0eb811b227e8de