Environmentalists
It is very dangerous for fish to live in waters with low oxygen levels. Studies have shown that low oxygen levels cause reproductive organs in fish to shrink and hormone levels to decrease significantly (Graham 2003). Over time this could lead to a significant decrease in population for certain fish species. Also, while one may think that a fish would simply relocate to an area of water with more oxygen, fish sometimes become unconscious before they can leave hypoxic zones. In addition, most bottom-dwellers are too slow to be able to get out of hypoxic zones and so they suffocate (Gulf Hypoxia 2011). The Gulf of Mexico offers a large amount of very diverse wildlife; therefore, we must eliminate any human contribution toward the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico.
It is very dangerous for fish to live in waters with low oxygen levels. Studies have shown that low oxygen levels cause reproductive organs in fish to shrink and hormone levels to decrease significantly (Graham 2003). Over time this could lead to a significant decrease in population for certain fish species. Also, while one may think that a fish would simply relocate to an area of water with more oxygen, fish sometimes become unconscious before they can leave hypoxic zones. In addition, most bottom-dwellers are too slow to be able to get out of hypoxic zones and so they suffocate (Gulf Hypoxia 2011). The Gulf of Mexico offers a large amount of very diverse wildlife; therefore, we must eliminate any human contribution toward the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Thousands of dead fish wash up on the shore of a Louisiana Marsh. This happened as a result of the low-oxygen conditions in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/09/100916-fish-kill-louisiana-gulf-oil-spill-dead-zone-science-environment/ |
Tourism industry
Along with the seafood industry, the tourism industry plays a big role in communities surrounding the Gulf of Mexico. The beautiful and very diverse wildlife the Gulf of Mexico has to offer is one of its biggest tourist attractions. In fact, wildlife watching in states surrounding the Gulf of Mexico attracts over 11 million visitors every year (Brown 2013). Therefore, the decrease in population of aquatic wildlife can lead to a significant drop off in the amount of tourists visiting the Gulf of Mexico every year. Many businesses in the Gulf of Mexico area rely on increased business during popular tourist seasons and could suffer very much from a drop in tourism. Consequently, any significant change in the population of wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico can have disastrous effects on the economy in the area near the Gulf.
Along with the seafood industry, the tourism industry plays a big role in communities surrounding the Gulf of Mexico. The beautiful and very diverse wildlife the Gulf of Mexico has to offer is one of its biggest tourist attractions. In fact, wildlife watching in states surrounding the Gulf of Mexico attracts over 11 million visitors every year (Brown 2013). Therefore, the decrease in population of aquatic wildlife can lead to a significant drop off in the amount of tourists visiting the Gulf of Mexico every year. Many businesses in the Gulf of Mexico area rely on increased business during popular tourist seasons and could suffer very much from a drop in tourism. Consequently, any significant change in the population of wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico can have disastrous effects on the economy in the area near the Gulf.
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A tourist enjoys interacting with the vast array of wildlife the Gulf of Mexico has to offer.
http://www.charterlist.com/Islamorada/Florida/Scuba-Snorkel-Trips/a40.aspx |
Seafood industry
Wildlife populations in the Gulf of Mexico have decreased significantly due to the dead zone. The graph below shows that the population of blue crab has decreased steadily due to the conditions created by dead zones. Consequently, fishermen must travel farther and spend more time in order to catch fish in areas with a dead zone. This leads to a larger amount of money being spent on fishing which in turn leads to a higher price for consumers to pay. Fish caught in the Gulf of Mexico account for about 40% of the seafood in the 48 contiguous states (Tercek 2011). In addition, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimated that the dead zone costs American seafood and tourism industries about $82 million dollars per year (Tercek 2011). Therefore, farming and fertilizer companies must recognize that an industry this large must be protected.
Wildlife populations in the Gulf of Mexico have decreased significantly due to the dead zone. The graph below shows that the population of blue crab has decreased steadily due to the conditions created by dead zones. Consequently, fishermen must travel farther and spend more time in order to catch fish in areas with a dead zone. This leads to a larger amount of money being spent on fishing which in turn leads to a higher price for consumers to pay. Fish caught in the Gulf of Mexico account for about 40% of the seafood in the 48 contiguous states (Tercek 2011). In addition, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimated that the dead zone costs American seafood and tourism industries about $82 million dollars per year (Tercek 2011). Therefore, farming and fertilizer companies must recognize that an industry this large must be protected.
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Blue crab populations have steadily decreased since the 1980s. The low-oxygen conditions in the Gulf of Mexico are most dangerous for bottom-dwellers, such as the blue crab.
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Farmers
Fertilizers are an essential part of farming. Fertilizers provide plants with essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (VanZile 2014). Specifically, the nutrients found in fertilizer encourage stronger leaf growth, flowering and budding, and stronger roots (VanZile 2014). Therefore, without the added nutrients fertilizers provide, crop yields would plummet. For example, current estimates reveal that the use of fertilizer is responsible for 41% of the average U.S. corn yield, as well as 37% of cotton yields and 27% of rice yields (Stewart 2002). As the total worldwide population continues to climb, farmers must keep up with demand and produce enough crops to satisfy an entire population. The nutrient runoff that leads to the creation of dead zones is a small price to pay in exchange for more crops.
Fertilizers are an essential part of farming. Fertilizers provide plants with essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (VanZile 2014). Specifically, the nutrients found in fertilizer encourage stronger leaf growth, flowering and budding, and stronger roots (VanZile 2014). Therefore, without the added nutrients fertilizers provide, crop yields would plummet. For example, current estimates reveal that the use of fertilizer is responsible for 41% of the average U.S. corn yield, as well as 37% of cotton yields and 27% of rice yields (Stewart 2002). As the total worldwide population continues to climb, farmers must keep up with demand and produce enough crops to satisfy an entire population. The nutrient runoff that leads to the creation of dead zones is a small price to pay in exchange for more crops.
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Commercial fertilizers like these are used to ensure healthy, continuous growth from plants.
http://www.irrigationoutlet.com/irrigation-outlet-blog/is-it-too-late-to-fertilize-my-lawn-this-year |
Works Cited:
Graham, S. (March 11, 2003) 'Dead Zone' Waters Stymie Fish Reproduction. Scientific
American. Nature America, Inc. (Date accessed: February 18, 2014.) http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dead-zone-waters-stymie-f/
Gulf Hypoxia. (June 18, 2011) Monster dead zone ahead in the Gulf of Mexico: An editorial. Gulf Hypoxia. Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium. (Date accessed: February 18, 2014.) http://www.gulfhypoxia.net/news/default.asp?XMLFilename=201106200958.xml
Tercek, M. (August 2, 2011) Gulf 'Dead Zone' Threatens Seafood, Tourism Industries. Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. (Date accessed: February 18, 2014.) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-tercek/gulf-dead-zone-threatens-_b_916389.html
VanZile, J. (February 19, 2014) Fertilizing Houseplants. About.com. (Date accessed: February 19, 2014.) http://houseplants.about.com/od/howtousefertilizer/a/indoorfertilize.htm
Stewart, W. M. (May 2002) Fertilizer Contributions to Crop Yield. News and Views. Potash and Phosphate Institute. (Date accessed: February 26, 2014.) http://tinyurl.com/n72zyv2