Thursday March 28, 2024
Earth.com —
In a stark announcement, researchers from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) have sounded the alarm on an escalating problem in our oceans — the growth of “dead zones.” These regions of critically low oxygen create marine ecosystems unable to support most forms of life.
Recent study reveals that a major culprit driving dead zone expansion is a worrying trend: excess nutrients entering the ocean.
Ocean dead zones are areas in the ocean where the oxygen levels are so low that most marine life cannot survive. These zones are also known as hypoxic areas.
Oxygen is essential for the survival of fish, shellfish, and other marine organisms. Without enough oxygen, these creatures either die, move to other areas, or face significant reproductive and health issues.
The size and number of oceanic dead zones have been increasing globally, posing a significant threat to marine ecosystems.