World Ocean Day: June 8

World Ocean Day: June 8. (NOAA 06/05/23) Why should we care about the ocean? (noaa.gov)

Nine benefits that oceans do for humans and the planet:

• Climate regulation: Covering 70 percent of the Earth's surface, the ocean transports heat from the equator to the poles, regulating our climate and weather patterns.
• Transportation: Seventy-six percent of all U.S. trade involves some form of marine transportation.
• Recreation: From fishing to boating to kayaking and whale watching, the ocean provides us with many unique activities.
• Economic benefits: The U.S. ocean economy produces $282 billion in goods and services and ocean-dependent businesses employ almost three million people.
• Food: The ocean provides more than just seafood; ingredients from the sea are found in surprising foods such as peanut butter and soymilk.
• Medicine: Many medicinal products come from the ocean, including ingredients that help fight cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and heart disease.
• REGIONALLY: The Gulf of Mexico's ecosystem provides a wide array of valuable resources. Brief summaries of petroleum and fisheries resources can be found below.
• It is estimated that 1.4-7.2x10 barrels of petroleum and 4.4-22.3x10 cubic meters of natural gas are present beneath the seafloor in the northern GoM. According to the Minerals Management Service, offshore operations in the Gulf produce a quarter of the U.S. domestic natural gas and one-eighth of its oil. In addition, the offshore petroleum industry employs over 55,000 workers in the Gulf.  
• Gulf fisheries are some of the most productive in the world. In 2000, the commercial fish and shellfish harvest from the five Gulf states was estimated to be 1.7B pounds, which represents 19.4% of the total domestic landings in the U.S.  The Gulf also supports a productive recreational fishery. Excluding Texas, Gulf states accounted for over 40% of the U.S. recreational finfish harvest in 2000.