U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy - Joint Ocean Commission Initiative

that copies the molecular structure of a salmongland extract is one of the new treatments availableto fight osteoporosis. And coral, mollusk, andechinoderm skeletons are being tested as orthopedicand cosmetic surgical implants.Scientists are also growing marine organismsin the laboratory and using them as models forphysiological research. For example, they areusing the damselfish to study cancer tumors, thesea hare and squid to investigate the nervous system,and the toadfish to investigate the effects ofliver failure on the brain. In addition, bacteria andother organisms living in extreme deep-sea environmentshold promise for the bioremediation ofoil spills and other wastes.Remarkably, in this first decade of the 21stcentury, about 95 percent of the world’s ocean arearemains unexplored. We have barely begun tocomprehend the full richness and value of thediverse resources residing beneath the surface ofthe sea.Tourism and RecreationFigure 1.3 The Coasts: From the Nearshoreto Coastal Watersheds■ NearshoreZip Codes■ Coastal ZoneCounties■ CoastalWatershedCountiesEvery year, hundreds of millions of American andinternational visitors flock to the nation’s coasts toenjoy the many pleasures the ocean affords, whilespending billions of dollars and directly supportingmore than a million and a half jobs. Millions ofother tourists take to the sea aboard cruise ships,and still more visit the nation’s aquariums, nauticalmuseums, and seaside communities to learn aboutthe oceans and their history.Tourism and recreation constitute by far thefastest growing sector of the ocean economy(Figure 1.4), extending virtually everywhere alongthe coasts of the continental United States, southeastAlaska, Hawaii, and our island territories andcommonwealths. This rapid growth will surelycontinue as incomes rise, more Americans retire,and leisure time expands.While there is no national program to calculatethe economic value of the oceans and coasts,several recent studies highlight the contributionsVarying interpretations of the geographic area encompassedby “the coast” have hampered our ability to quantify theeconomic and ecologic importance of this dynamic region.Defining distinct regions, including the nearshore, thecoastal zone, and coastal watersheds, provides scientists anddecision makers with clear boundaries as they developpolicies and investigate coastal processes.Source: Living Near… and Making a Living From… the Nation’s Coastsand Oceans, Appendix C.of beach-related activities to the economy. In southern California, visitors spent in excessof $1 billion at the beaches of Orange and Los Angeles Counties during the summer of2000. 15 The annual value of Great Lakes beach visits may be as high as $1.65 billion. 16And in Hawaii, coral reefs are a major source of recreational benefits, generating an estimated$360 million per year. 17The real value of ocean recreation, however, goes beyond the number of jobs createdor amount of income produced—there are also immeasurable benefits to individuals andsociety in being able to enjoy a day at the beach or in the water.InsetC HAPTER 1: RECOGNIZING O CEAN A SSETS AND C HALLENGES35