The ocean impacts all Americans, whether they live near the coast or not. The ocean plays a role in everything from the air we breathe, the food we eat, and transportation of the goods we buy, to our daily weather and longer-term climate trends.
Most of our knowledge of the ocean lies in shallower waters. However, deeper waters are growing in their importance to our nation. Many fisheries are based in deep waters, as are new sites for offshore energy production and deep-sea mining. The deep sea may also hold cures to crippling diseases.
How will we know what is out there if we aren’t even looking for it?