Why is the ocean so important to humans? The ocean and coastal ecosystems provide nearly a million jobs in the United States through fishing, recreation, and tourism. More than 180 million people visit the ocean and the coast for recreational purposes each year. In fact, over 50% of people living on Earth live within 50 miles of the coast and the ocean. Even if you don’t live near the ocean, you are still dependent on it.

Watch this video to learn more about how humans are dependent on the oceans. The video also gives an introduction to how humans impact the ocean.