Given that the ocean is the largest living space on our planet and covers nearly 70 percent of Earth’s surface, it seems that perhaps we ought to know more about the planet we call home. But we don’t.
We have only explored five percent of our world ocean using modern instruments. That means that 95 percent of our ocean is unknown or poorly understood.
As a great maritime nation, much of the United States’ growth was fueled by knowledge gained from exploration of the sea. Exploration allows us to set our boundaries, protect American interests, and claim ocean resources.