See El Nino. Importance of the ocean. The Pacific provides more than half of the world's catch of fish and shellfish. Other major fishing areas are the waters near Southeast Asia, Australia, South America, and North America. Other products of the Pacific include pearls, seaweed used for fertilizer and in processed foods, tropical fish for aquariums, and minerals.
Petroleum is the most important mineral resource of the Pacific.
Major deposits have been discovered in the coastal waters of California, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Offshore wells operate in these areas. Natural gas is produced from wells on the continental shelves near Russia, Southeast Asia, and Australia. The Pacific is one of the world's major trade routes. Since the mid-1900's, the transportation of goods across the ocean has increased as East and Southeast Asian countries have developed industrially.