Ocean Dead Zones
Oceans need oxygen, too
Dead zones are as dire as they sound. When nutrients in water suddenly increase (usually from fertilizer runoff), underwater plants grow and decay much too fast for their environment. Rampant algae begin to choke the ecosystem of oxygen, clouding the water and creating a dead zone. Because few organisms can tolerate a lack of oxygen, dead zones wreak havoc on ecosystems and food supply. But dead zones are reversible.
The Black Sea dead zone -- once the largest in the world -- nearly disappeared following the collapse of the Soviet Union when fertilizers, (the primary culprit of dead zones around the world) became too expensive for use. By raising awareness about water pollutants, we can start taking steps to restoring coastlines to their natural state.
