Marine Pollution: Nutrient pollution, Harmful Algal Blooms, and Hypoxia in the US, specifically the Gulf of Mexico



Executive Summary

The Gulf of Mexico is facing a major problem from the release of nutrients from the Mississippi River. These nutrients are increasing the presence of algae which is consuming a lot of oxygen from the water thus leaving very little water for fish to survive. This has led to dead zones called Hypoxia.

The EPA is currently working in order to reduce this issue and restore the Gulf of Mexico. However, people claim that it is not doing much and ignoring several aspects. This has led to several lawsuits being filed against EPA in order to force them to take bigger steps to control the pollution. The EPA claims that it is doing everything under its jurisdiction and the additional efforts needed as claimed by several parties do not fall under its jurisdiction.

Keeping in mind the adverse impact caused by the excess nutrients being discharged by the Mississippi, the EPA has to take several steps in order to ensure that the nutrients being discharged are such that they do not cause an outbreak of algae.

Executive Summaryii

Introduction4

Hypoxia4

An Overview of Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico5

Mississippi River Basin6

Impact on Fishing7

Lawsuits against EPA8

Legal and Technical Background9

Clean Water Act10

Detection of Algae in Water11

Conclusion and Recommendations12

References14

Marine Pollution: Nutrient pollution, Harmful Algal Blooms, and Hypoxia in the US, specifically the Gulf of Mexico

Introduction

Too much of good things can lead to undesirable situations. One example of this situation is the release of high amounts of nutrients into the sea. Although nutrients are essential for the growth of plants and animals, there is a need to keep these nutrients under control as they can lead to a biological chain reaction that can have a devastating effect. The Gulf of Mexico has witnessed such a situation in which the nutrient rich water of the Mississippi River has increased the amount of algae thus causing them to use a lot of oxygen leading to the death of marine life. Controlling this is not an easy task as a lot of effort is needed and several factors need to keep in mind. This paper sets to identify the issues and the potential solutions to the algae bloom caused by an increase in the flow of nutrients.

Hypoxia

Hypoxia is an environmental phenomenon in which the concentration of dissolved oxygen decreases to an extent that life can no longer be supported. This often occurs due to the biological factors such as the increase in algae in the ocean. Algae can be very dangerous if an outbreak occurs. Such outbreaks are very common the US and Europe. One effect of hypoxia is that the quantity of fish caught through bottom dragged trawling is reduced significantly and several species of fish and shrimp that are common in the region become difficult to find.

Human activity is cited as the main cause of the problem although this has been occurring in the past. However, a major difference from the current outbreak and ...