The northern Gulf of Mexico
Pattillo, M.E.; Nelson, D.M. (2000). The northern Gulf of Mexico, in: Sheppard, C.R.C. (Ed.) Seas at the millennium: an environmental evaluation: 1. Regional chapters: Europe, The Americas and West Africa. pp. 435-456 In: Sheppard, C.R.C. (Ed.) (2000). Seas at the millennium: an environmental evaluation: 1. Regional chapters: Europe, The Americas and West Africa. Pergamon: Amsterdam. ISBN 0-08-043207-7. XXI, 934 pp., more |
| Available in | Authors | | Document type: Review
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| Authors | | Top | - Pattillo, M.E.
- Nelson, D.M.
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| Abstract | The northern Gulf of Mexico is characterized by features such as bathymetry , hydrography, productivity and trophically dependent populations that make this a distinct region. The natural resources of this area are important to the economy of the coastal border states of the United States. Of particular importance in this area are the fish and fisheries resources, recreational facilities, offshore oil production, and the wide diversity of fish, bird, and mammal species. However, this area is increasingly being subjected to stress from a number of areas. Growing population pressures impose an increased use of and demand on Gulf resources. The large Gulf watershed introduces many environmental problems associated with runoff of pesticides, fertilizers, toxic substances, and trash. There is an increasing incidence and extent of harmful algal blooms, oxygen depletion events, pollution, loss of wetlands, and losses of fishery productivity and yield through overexploitation and by-catch discards. Efforts are presently underway to restore the ecological damage in the northern Gulf through the various local, state, federal, national, and international jurisdictions responsible for the management of the northern Gulfs rich biodiversity habitats, and other assets. ln addition, these groups are working to develop more effective means for the governance of this area to assure that its users will be able to realize the long-term sustainable benefits to be derived from the Gulfs productive waters. |
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