​ADDITIONAL FACTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS

• Oceans cover three quarters of the Earth’s surface, contain 97 per cent of the Earth’s water, and represent 99 per cent of the living space on the planet by volume.

• Over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods.

• Globally, the market value of marine and coastal resources and industries is estimated at $3 trillion per year or about 5 per cent of global GDP.

• Oceans contain nearly 200,000 identified species, but actual numbers may lie in the millions.

• Oceans absorb about 30 per cent of carbon dioxide produced by humans, buffering the impacts of global warming.

• Oceans serve as the world’s largest source of protein, with more than 3 billion people depending on the oceans as their primary source of protein