The ocean covers more than two thirds of the planet. It provides food for more than half the world's population, influences the global weather and climate patterns and serves as a global highway for transporting products and materials. The ocean affects your life every day. From the life-giving rain that nourishes crops to critical medicines from the fish that swim near the ocean floor to the goods that are transported on the sea's surface, the ocean plays an important role in your life. Everyday products as we know them from ice cream to toothpaste, would not be possible without key ingredients that come from the ocean.
You affect the ocean every day. Likewise, what we do affects the ocean. The household cleaners, lawn fertilizers and motor oils we use can end up in the ocean if we're not careful. In fact, some water pollution actually starts out as air pollution. The ocean is vital to life on Earth. To vacationers the ocean is a place of recreation. To explorers it's a great unknown. It's a source of food, transportation and medicine. While the ocean is vast, it is not limitless. The ocean's resources are finite. We have a responsibility to manage these vital resources wisely and carefully so future generations can use and enjoy them. We can make a difference.
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