Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (CSCOR)

2008 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan Formally Released During Signing Ceremony in New Orleans, June 16, 2008

The Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force formally released the 2008 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan during a signing ceremony and meeting on June 16, 2008 in New Orleans, LA.  Completing a multi-step scientific reassessment of the 2001 Action Plan, the ceremony allowed for media engagement and feature comments by Task Force members.  The Task Force also continued its commitment for maximum stakeholder and public engagement through a dedicated public session that was held the following day, on June 17, 2008.

The 2001 Action Plan was developed by the Task Force to address the Nation’s largest recurring hypoxic zone (a dead zone devoid of oxygen) that threatens a $2.8 billion fishery in the northern Gulf of Mexico.  The updated 2008 Action Plan reiterates the Task Force’s commitment to the framework of the original plan, including continued encouragement of voluntary actions, and maintains the coastal goal of reducing the size of the hypoxic zone to 5,000 km2.  In addition to updated science, including the results of an Environmental Protection Agency Science Advisory Board Report, the 2008 Action Plan incorporates emerging issues such as changes in agriculture due to increased demand for biofuels, reauthorization of conservation programs within the Farm Bill, and the loss of coastal wetlands. 

As stewards of coastal ecosystem health, NOAA has had a critical role in Task Force activities since its inception, and is represented by Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., U.S. Navy (Ret.) Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator. Furthermore, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) scientists represent NOAA on the Task Force’s Coordinating Committee, play key advisory roles, and manage programs that are the major driving force for determining priorities for, and funding of, research into the causes of hypoxia and its impacts on living resources  Although the size of the hypoxic zone (20,500 km2 in 2007) has not decreased since the original 2001 Action Plan, NOAA remains committed to working with its partners on the Task Force to reach the goal of reducing the hypoxic zone to an annual size of 5,000 km2. For more information contact Alan.Lewitus@noaa.gov or David.Kidwell@noaa.gov.

See the current feature story for more information on the task force.