The number of poisonous algal species identified by scientists has nearly tripled since 1984, increasing fish kills, beach closures, and economic losses. People obtain an average of 16 percent of their animal protein from fish. Clean beaches and coastlines attract millions of visitors each year and provide billions of dollars in tourism revenue. Toothpaste, salad dressing, ice cream, and first aid products all depend on the gel-forming properties of brown algae. The U.N. General Assembly spends just one day a year covering issues that affect more than half of the planet.
Recreational activities are a prime source of contact with oceans.
In 1997, more than 35 million people visited an aquarium in the United States. Because the most productive areas of the ocean are under national jurisdiction and 80 percent of oceanic pollution originates on land, addressing global marine issues requires strong national and local policies. A number of countries have adopted coastal and marine zoning laws and management plans, bans on oil drilling and other destructive practices, trade measures, taxes and fees. To pay for some of the costs of management, New Zealand and Iceland charge fishers user fees and Mozambique and Bonaire charge tourists diving fees. The U.K., Norway, and Denmark all tax offshore oil and gas production in their waters.