’It’s hard to imagine, but a fish can drown’

It's the perfect fuel for storms: warm ocean water, at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Without it, powerful storms like Andrew, Katrina, and Ian would never have formed. But for certain fish that ply the waters of the world's oceans, exceptionally high ocean temperatures can be a death knell, decreasing the levels of dissolved oxygen in the sea they need to survive. And this year, the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico are warmer than they have ever been on record, with water temperatures in the latter topping 88 degrees during one week in August. Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have been tracking a steady uptick in ocean temperatures since April, and thousands of dead fish have washed ashore in Florida coastal areas-from Hallandale Beach to the Tampa Bay area-and along the Texas Gulf Coast. Wildlife officials in some of those areas have blamed low oxygen levels, or hypoxia, in the water for those kills. "As the temperature in the water increases, the amount of oxygen available decreases.