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Our oceans are perhaps nature’s greatest gifts to us. They
are amongst the most valuable natural resources that serve us as well as the entire
living community of the world in countless number of ways. Not only does it provide
food to a large part of the world community but also serves as an effective and
cheap means of transport and trade.
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| Ocean Resources
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Oceans have been used by humans since time immemorial for
trade. Another greatest aspect of the oceans lies in the mineral wealth that is
buried in their beds.
Oceans are a storehouse of materials like sand, gravel and
salt as well as mineral wealth that varies from magnesium to mica, iron, copper,
cobalt, manganese and many others.
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Mineral oil, which is the source of satisfaction of nearly
entire of the earth’s energy needs, is also mined from the oceans. Oceans are also
used for various recreational activities and water sports for joy and fun.
Oceans are the providers of the largest biotic
community to the earth. It gives shelter to the largest array of flora and
fauna in the world. No other biotic community can even get close to that harboured
by the oceans.
Oceans are turning out to be the largest source of bio medically
advantageous organisms that have an enormous potential of providing cures for
countless diseases.
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Oceans also help to maintain the earth’s climatic balance by
playing a pivotal role in maintenance of the earth’s water balance as well as its
oxygen balance. Oceans also help in regulation of the percentage of carbon in the
earth’s atmosphere and hence its temperature |
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Oceans are also of immense importance to those economies that
depend largely on the processing and export of fish. Consumption of fish meets 16
per cent of the world’s protein needs. Oceans thus are an indispensable source of
food for a large part of the world community. Molluscs and crustaceans residing in
oceans also form an important part of the world food chain.
The next important aspect of oceans is shipping. Today more than 80
per cent of the world trade is carried out through the ocean routes
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Various types of ships like tankers, bulk carriers etc. that
ferry through these shipping routes help the wheels of world trade to keep
turning.
Many sea-faring nations thus depend entirely on the oceans
for the sole purpose of boosting their economies through imports and exports.
Oceans also help to promote tourism through various
recreational facilities like water sports, deep sea diving etc.
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| Ocean Resources Importance |
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Oceans are of utmost importance from the mining point of view
also. Many important mineral ores like that of mica, manganese, copper etc are
found in vast quantities in the ocean beds.
It is thus extremely important for us to keep the oceans free
from pollution and dirt as much as possible. The most important method of doing so
is by spreading awareness among people about the immense importance of oceans not
only for us, but also for the entire living community.
Only then will we be able to hand over this greatest gift of
nature in its true purity to the future generations.
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| Search our Web site for more information on Ocean
Resources |
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