The Ocean

The Ocean covers more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface and supports billions of livelihoods worldwide.

The U.S. is the largest single-country market for fish and fish products, the third largest wild seafood producer, and the fifth largest exporter of fish and fish products .

The U.S. is party to 9 regional fisheries management organizations that manage fisheries across the ocean.

Globally, seafood exports were valued at $152 billion in 2017 and more than 3.2 billion people rely on fish as a key source of animal protein.

8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean every year. By 2050, there could be more plastic than fish (by weight) in the ocean.

20 agreements govern U.S. maritime boundaries and 11 maritime boundaries have yet to be negotiated.

Through the Arctic Council, the United States and the other seven Arctic states collaborate and coordinate on environmental protection and sustainable development in the Arctic.