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People are drawn to the edges of the sea. We see the ocean as a small piece of infinity. But, we have been chipping away at this seemingly endless resource. Some of the richest areas of the oceans are the continental shelves and these are also the areas most exposed to pollution.
The heaviest contributions originate from people living along the coast - this includes a number of the world's major urban centres - and nutrient-rich rivers emptying into the oceans. Improvements in fishing technology without corresponding improvements in management of the resource have resulted in regional decreases in fish stocks.
Like the atmosphere, the oceans help distribute solar energy. Currents are the winds of the ocean. This process also helps to moderate the earth's climate.
Ocean temperatures and current flow patterns could be affected by climate change. Because oceans currents redistribute heat, changes in them could compound the effect of changes in the earth's climate. Melting polar ice is also expected to affect ocean levels, which could cause flooding in some areas with low elevation above sea level. More extreme variations in ocean water temperature could also trigger more extreme weather.
The oceans hold over 97% of the earth's water. By comparison, available fresh water sources represent .26% of the earth's water.
The sea shore, at the border of sea and land, is an important habitat. Salt marshes are very productive for the same reasons.