The Gulf stream is a strong ocean current that brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico into the Atlantic Ocean. Warming and regulating temperatures across the eastern coast of the US and across into Europe, but overfishing and pollution could threaten the balance of this natural marvel.

Most street drainage and urban runoff in the US comes through the Mississippi which is then funnelled into the Gulf stream. A mass of nutrients enter the stream being pushed along hundreds of miles until they start to form into algal bloom (a rapid growth of microscopic algae) which sinks down and starves the waters of oxygen. These areas are called dead zones; where life is starved and the former diverse wildlife dwindles. The dead zone in the Gulf stream now stretches over six thousand miles or over 6 billion tennis courts. 

Now despite these massive areas trying to be avoided by marine wildlife the stream still accounts for 40% of all seafood in the US but because fish and other commercial species usually move out to sea in order to avoid the dead zone, fishermen are forced to travel farther from land—and spend more time and money—to make their catches, adding stress to an industry already hurt by hurricanes and the oil spills. Ships and boats also have a big impact on marine life due to the noise they make, often disorienting sea life such as whales and causing them to get lost.

The future of the gulf stream is uncertain but efforts to divert nutrients and new technologies that break them down are being explored but more urgent action is still needed.