The ocean is the main mode of transport for world trade. With c. 90% of traded goods carried over the waves, it connects cities and countries around the world, driving economic activity and trade.

The ocean is the number one source of protein for more than two billion people, making it a critical source of food. In addition to seafood, ingredients from the ocean are found in a surprising number of food and nutritional products.

The ocean is an important source of jobs and a major source of income. It contributes 2.5% of global GDP and provides employment to 1.5% of the global workforce.

Many medicines originate from the ocean, including ingredients that help fight cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer’s and heart disease.

 The ocean supplies 70% of the world's oxygen.

The ocean transports heat from the equator to the poles, regulating our climate and weather patterns.

Around 25% of all CO2 emissions are absorbed by the ocean, where they can be stored for millennia.

The ocean is the largest ecosystem, covering 75% of the Earth's surface and containing 97% of its water. It also provides 99% of the planet's living space by volume. With almost one million known species, the ocean has immense potential for scientific discovery, as 91% of its species are still unclassified.