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Since the hypoxia described in this article isn’t caused directly by the fertilizer, but by the subsequent algae blooms, then perhaps an effective solution is to combat the algae. It might even be profitable to harvest the algae. If the fishing industry is capable of depleting the seas of species that we want there, then it should be equally capable of depleting the seas of species that we don’t want there.

David Charlap
Vienna, Va.

All attention to the so-called dead zone off the coast of our state is certainly welcomed. While the cited authorities clearly stated that data on this phenomenon remain meager, I was surprised that the article made no mention of the continuing debate over interpretations for those data, especially in terms of alternative contributors to hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico and the relative importance of each.

Darryl L. Felder
Lafayette, La.