Gulf of Mexico

On the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act last month, a group of scientists asked the federal government for protection and funds for recovery of Rice’s whales.

Their populations have dropped by 80%, and both could soon be recommended for protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The area of low to no oxygen— also known as a hypoxic zone— that can kill fish and marine life, is about 3,275 square miles.

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary's Restoration Blueprint would add Pulley Ridge in the Gulf of Mexico to its boundaries, in addition to putting additional protections on more than 450 square miles around the Keys.

The project offers underrepresented students the opportunity to document climate change and the lingering BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill impacts from 2010.

The federal lawsuit challenges allocations approved by NOAA as part of Amendment 53 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico.

The map shows predicted red tide affects along Florida's west coast in three-hour increments, based on wind speed and direction.

Scientists say the area of little-to-no oxygen is about the size of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie put together.

The entire fracking process creates waste, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. And a lot of the activity is concentrated in the northern part of the Gulf of Mexico, which is home to several endangered and threatened wildlife species.

It's not seen as an immediate or significant threat to Florida at this time.

Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have discovered changes within the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zones.

It's a blend between a manta Ray and shark chimera.