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Gulf - Saltwater
Fish of the Gulf of Mexico
The largest gulf in the world - a warm, productive body of water critical to US and Mexican commercial and recreational fishing.
Continent: North America Area: 1,550,000 km² Max Depth: 5,203m Climate: Subtropical
📖 Overview
The Gulf of Mexicos productivity comes from the Mississippi River delivering enormous nutrients into subtropical waters. Home to red snapper, red drum, spotted seatrout, sailfish, tarpon, mahi-mahi, and countless shrimp species. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill was one of the largest environmental disasters in US history.
🐟 Notable Species
Red snapper, red drum (redfish), spotted seatrout (speckled trout), tarpon, sailfish, mahi-mahi, king mackerel, tripletail, cobia. Shrimping fleets and oyster fisheries.
🛡️ Conservation Status
Chronic hypoxic dead zones from Mississippi nutrient loading. Red snapper managed through federal quotas after decades of overfishing. Ongoing recovery from Deepwater Horizon.
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