While most Americans appreciate
our oceans for a day at the beach, few realize the vital
role this immense resource plays in our country’s
national security, economic prosperity, and food
availability. Ocean literacy is about increasing
people’s knowledge and understanding of the ocean and
its connection to people and the places where they live,
work, play and learn.
Since oceans make up the majority of our world and most
people have very little understand the oceans play in our
everyday lives, we have developed a “Great American Ocean
Quiz”
Definition of ocean
literacy:
Ocean literacy is an understanding of the oceans influence
on you and your influence on the ocean. (1)
Seven Essential Ocean Principles (2)
The Earth has one big ocean with many features
The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of
Earth.
The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.
The ocean makes Earth habitable.
The ocean supports a great diversity of life and
ecosystems.
The ocean and humans are inextricably linked.
The ocean is largely unexplored.
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
8601 Georgia Avenue
Suite 501
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 608-3040
(301) 608-3044 (fax)
Outreach Coordinator
Jennifer Black
Jennifer@nmsfocean.org
1. Ocean Literacy, The Essentail
Principles of Ocean Sciences K-12, Copyright 2005 National Geographic
Society
2. Ocean Literacy,
The Essentail Principles of Ocean Sciences
K-12, Copyright
2005 National Geographic Society