Return to Nonpoint Source Pollution: Categories of Pollution: Nonpoint Source

Nonpoint source pollution can severely affect many aspects of a community especially the commercial fishing industry. Nonpoint source pollution can lead to massive fishkills due to severely decreased levels of oxygen in the water, a condition known as hypoxia. In addition, fish and shellfish can be poisoned by harmful algal blooms caused by an overabundance of nutrients in the water, a condition called eutrophication. Photo: Duluth, Minnesota. Minnesota Sea Grant

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