Water: Oceans, Coasts, Estuaries & Beaches What You Can Do Did
you know that more than half the U.S. population lives within 50
miles of the coasts? About 180 million people visit our coasts
each year. Also, one out of every six jobs in the United States
is marine-related, generating $54 billion in goods and services
annually. As a nation, we face many challenges to restore,
maintain and protect these priceless resources. The very nature
of the oceans, their vastness and complexity, hides their
sensitivity to abuse by our impacts. Our coastal areas fringing
this worldwide ocean are home to large populations, their
activities, and waste disposal. Often these impacts are
delivered to the coastal and estuarine areas by rivers and
streams. EPA pursues a watershed approach to manage these ocean
and coastal problems and restore our precious estuarine
heritage. Here's what you can do to protect our oceans and
coasts - a priceless resource: - Conserve water in your daily
life. - Don't be wasteful: reduce, re-use, and