Dead zones worry scientists, as reported in BBC News, 29 Mar 2004. Scientists have discovered over 150 regions in the sea where fish cannot live because they have been depleted of oxygen. Some of these are less than a square kilometre in size but others cover many thousands of square kilometres. Dead zones are found in the Gulf of Mexico, Chesapeake Bay, the Baltic, the Black and Adriatic seas and regions off the coasts of South America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. The main cause of dead zones is claimed to be excess nitrogen fertiliser being washed into rivers and eventually ending up in the sea where it stimulates excessive growth of algae. The algae then sink to the bottom of the sea where they decompose and deplete the water of oxygen.
Editorial Comment: The last book of the Bible (Revelation), written no later than 100 AD, foretold a great judgement on the world that would result in one third of creatures in the sea dying. (see Rev 8:8-9) When God first gave man dominion over the earth it was a very good place for living things. Since then it has suffered the effects of degeneration and the judgement brought about because of man’s sin. The Creator alone knows when the earth will no longer be able to sustain life and when He will bring the final judgement. Christ the Creator, Judge and Saviour will come to complete His judgement on the earth. At that time, evolutionary scientists will really have something to worry about. (Ref. oceans, death, judgement)