fish, crustaceans and humans
Dead zones have been doubling every decade since the 1960’s. There are now more than 450 dead zones that have been mapped and identified by the World Resources Institute in Washington, D.C., and Robert Diaz, states Cecil LeBlanc, in a blog dated March 29, 2012. Do you think they can at some point, affect you? Do you think they will affect your food supply? Do you think they affect our oceans and the creatures within? Yes, to all questions, read on. They are affecting the food supply around the world at this very moment.. The shellfish and the fish consume toxic poisons; in turn they are eventually transferred to humans. The poisons are called Phytoplankton.
The dead zones are immense in size, negatively affecting the ocean, every living creature in the ocean, the commercial fishermen, as well as human beings all over the world. They appear in the summer months and thrive on the sun. The scientists call them a phenomenon.
We are causing the dead zones and have been for decades. When it rains, sewage, agricultural runoff, as well as nitrogen and phosphorous are deposited into our rivers and streams, which eventually reach the ocean. The level of oxygen diminishes within the dead zones and our food becomes threatened. Many of our coast lines are riddled with dead zones.
We are causing the dead zones and have been for decades. When it rains, sewage, agricultural runoff, as well as nitrogen and phosphorous are deposited into our rivers and streams, which eventually reach the ocean. The level of oxygen diminishes within the dead zones and our food becomes threatened. Many of our coast lines are riddled with dead zones.
Phytoplankton, the World Dictionary definition is, tiny plant found in plankton: very small free-floating plants, e.g. one-celled algae, and are also found in plankton. While feeding on the nutrients in the water the plankton devour the oxygen. When the plankton has consumed enough oxygen they begin to die and decompose as they settle to the ocean floor. But, as they travel downward the plankton kill everything in their path. In fact, plankton destroys marine animals and birds as well. What’s even scarier, once settled at the bottom of the ocean everything that cannot swim, or crawl away expires. Including shrimp, lobster, clams, and scallops, all other crustaceans will utterly die, all fish that get trapped within these enormous dead zones die…all living creatures that cannot get oxygen suffocate and die. What if a school of fish cannot find its way out of the dead zone and they become trapped for any length of time? Take a deep breath, if you will. Now imagine swimming out of an 8,000 square mile dead zone, located at the mouth of the Mississippi River, said to be the second largest dead zone in the world. Look again at the picture located above this blog. Does this affect the human food chain as much as it affects oceanic life?
When large bodies of man-made pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer, and human waste are deposited into our oceans, it affects everyone. You ask why? Toxic substances form plankton, which consume oxygen, the very oxygen creatures of the ocean need to survive.
When large bodies of man-made pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer, and human waste are deposited into our oceans, it affects everyone. You ask why? Toxic substances form plankton, which consume oxygen, the very oxygen creatures of the ocean need to survive.
Many farmers are not taking this seriously. One reason might be because of where the dead zones are located. The toxic substances mainly affect coastlines and every one of them are within 20 miles of our coasts. If the fish cannot get oxygen they move further off the coast. The fishermen in turn have to go find them. The cost becomes enormous as they have to go further and further out to sea to fish. Which means more fuel, more pay and more overhead. In the High Cost of Marine Dead Zones, Ronn Hanley writes, “Worldwide, fishing employs an estimated 200 million people. In the United States alone, the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) reports that the commercial fishing intake for 2008-2009 was $8.3 billion dollars.” Can you imagine 200 million people being laid off or just flat losing their jobs and careers because of the toxins that continue being dumped into our oceans.
And that is all because of the hypoxic areas. Hypoxic is defined medically in the dictionary, as inadequacy in the oxygen reaching the body's tissues. That means the fish, lobster, clams, and scallops are not getting the oxygen they need, so they suffocate, or just outright die. In turn, the added cost becomes our burden as prices continue to rise.
And that is all because of the hypoxic areas. Hypoxic is defined medically in the dictionary, as inadequacy in the oxygen reaching the body's tissues. That means the fish, lobster, clams, and scallops are not getting the oxygen they need, so they suffocate, or just outright die. In turn, the added cost becomes our burden as prices continue to rise.