Known as the “American Mediterranean,” the Gulf of Mexico is an economic and environmental treasure. Within its 600,000 square miles lie natural wonders and habitats ranging from an underwater Grand Canyon 12,000 feet deep to coral reefs and one of the largest contiguous seagrass beds in the Northern Hemisphere.
The extent of damage caused by the 2010 oil spill remains unknown. But the disaster brought to light the urgency of protecting the Gulf’s resources, including its diverse bounty of fish.
For years, overfishing has taken a toll on the world’s ninth-largest body of water, and several fish species are at critically low levels. Depleting fish too quickly risks unbalancing the ecosystem and harming an economic engine that supports millions of people and jobs.
