The marine environment provides abundant resources. Coastal waters within 200 miles of land contain more than half of the ocean’s total biological productivity and supply nearly all the world’s fish catch. The seafood industry helps to supply developing nations with food and represents a $10 billion industry in the United States alone. The ocean also provides mineral resources, a potential energy source, a future supply of drinkable water, and may possibly prove to be a richer resource than the rain forest as new materials are discovered.

One of the most utilized resources we obtain from the ocean is seafood. For many people around the world, seafood is their main source of protein. An average serving of fish contains more protein than a serving of beef and provides consumers with Vitamins A, B, and D. Iron and copper may be obtained from shrimp and oysters, and other seafood gives us more magnesium and phosphorus than milk. Fish meal is an important ingredient in food for poultry, cattle, dogs, and cats. Fish are also used as fertilizers for plants.

Wetlands provide a vital contribution to the commercial fishing industry. Coastal wetlands serve as nursery areas for one-half to two-thirds of all sport fish. Shellfish life cycles are also integrally related to salt marshes. Wetlands are important in controlling flooding, preventing storm damage, and trapping sediments and pollutants.

The ocean provides plant resources that are beneficial to humans. Kelp beds are prolific in many of the Earth’s oceans and support a wide diversity of organisms. Kelp and other species of algae contain a chemical called algin, which is a stabilizer used in ice cream, other dairy products, many processed foods, beverages, and medicines. Algin is also used in paper production, cosmetics, ceramics, paint, and insecticides. In Japan seaweed is an important food product and is harvested from the sea.

Most of our energy needs are met by fossil fuels. As we deplete our oil and natural gas stocks on land, we have become more dependent upon the ocean to provide these resources. The ocean floor is currently being mined for minerals, such as phosphates, heavy metals, and manganese nodules.

In the future the oceans could be a source of even more resources. Once a cost effective method of desalination is developed, a new source of freshwater will be available. Scientists are making new discoveries every day, and no one knows what other resources the sea contains. Our oceans and wetlands provide us with a wealth of resources, and therefore, these areas must be protected from pollution, encroachment by man, and any other factors that are destructive to this valuable ecosystem.

One way marine organisms are being conserved is through the establishment of marine sanctuaries and government legislation such as the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act. According to Green (1998), there are currently nine designated marine sanctuaries within the United States. Eight other areas are proposed marine sanctuaries. These areas are protected, and no commercial activities are permitted within sanctuary boundaries. The National Marine Sanctuary Program is under the direction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The Endangered Species Act was established in 1973 and was designed to protect animals from extinction. Animals are listed as threatened or endangered according to their immediate risk. Under the Act, it is illegal to harass, take or transport any animal or plant on the list. It is also illegal to import a listed organism or any of its parts into the United States.

The Marine Mammal Protection Act was passed in 1972, and it specifically protects animals such as whales, dolphins, manatees, otters, seals, sea lions, and walruses. Many populations of marine mammals have been decimated by whaling, fishing, or hunting (Green, 1998). However, because of Acts such as these, many of these populations are beginning to recover in the United States. For example, the California Gray Whale population was reduced to only 5,000 animals in 1910 (Greene, 1998). Since the gray whale was listed as an endangered species, the population has increased to approximately 22,000 individuals.

While these regulations protect and are often helping to rebuild populations within United States boundaries, many resources still require further protection. The organisms and other ocean resources do not respect governmental boundaries. Therefore, protecting the vast resources contained in the world’s oceans is a global struggle. Cooperation with other nations and educating people to respect the ecosystem as a whole are integral components of global conservation and preservation of resources.