By Kyle Peveto
LSU AgCenter
In Louisiana, the many twists and turns of the state’s coast add up to more than 7,700 miles of shoreline, which meet the waters of the 600,000 square-mile Gulf of Mexico. Formed more than 300 million years ago, the Gulf of Mexico is home to 15,420 species of sea-dwelling creatures. From the deep-sea floor to coastal estuaries, the Gulf has an astonishing biodiversity. However, since 1972 a 4,480 square-mile area has been identified as a biohazard.