Wednesday, August 04, 2004

Of Oceans

The good people of Texas might wonder, as they cope with an increase in shark bites, why exactly nothing is being done to stop the dumping of fertilizers into the Gulf of Mexico--creating an oxygen-lacking dead zone every summer which possibly forces sharks closer to the coast. See the Reuter's article on CNN:

The nitrates, carried into the gulf's warm summer waters by the river, feed algae blooms that use up oxygen and make the water uninhabitable.The dead zone's size has varied each year depending on weather conditions, but averages about 5,000 square miles and remains in place until late September or early October.Virtually nothing is being done to stop the flow of nitrates into the river, meaning the dead zone will reappear every year, Rabalais said.
The dead zone forces fish to seek better water, which may be a reason for the recent shark bites on Texas beaches.Three people have been bitten by sharks along the upper Texas coast this year -- a high number for a state that has recorded only 18 shark attacks since 1980.


Can you do anything about it? Yes. If you can possibly afford to, try buying organic produce and products that use organic grains.