Waste Leak in Alaska

A salmon farming net pen in the Gulf of Alaska was damaged by strong winds and rough waves, causing large amounts of uneaten feed and fish waste to continuously leak into the surrounding waters. The continuous influx of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients is accumulating in the bay, depleting dissolved oxygen in the water and potentially creating hypoxic zones. At the same time, pharmaceutical residues carried by the aquaculture wastewater are entering the food chain. As this area serves as a vital migration corridor for gray whales, the combination of underwater noise and ongoing pollution is disrupting the whales’ navigation and foraging behaviors.