Chapter 14: The Ocean's Resources

Vocabulary and concepts regarding ocean resources, international treaties, and commercial fishing based on Chapter 14 of Invitation to Oceanography.

Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ)

Ocean areas established by the Law of the Sea Treaty where more than 40 percent of the world's ocean area is controlled by national governments.

Oil trap components

Geological structures on the continental shelf consisting of an impermeable shale cap rock above an oil-filled sandstone reservoir and water-filled sandstone.

Gas hydrates

Mineral resources where methane molecules ($CH_4$) are trapped in a cage of frozen water.

Methane molecule

$CH_4$; a primary component of gas hydrates often found in seafloor sediments.

Manganese nodules

Hard mineral deposits that blanket the sea bottom, with dense concentrations found in the South Pacific Ocean.

Pelagic fish

Commercially important fish including Anchovy, Mackerel, and Tuna.

Groundfish

Commercially important fish including Hake, Haddock, and Cod.

Mariculture

The practice of growing marine organisms, such as oysters, in coastal waters.

Gross ship tonnage trend (since 1990)

A measurement of the fishing fleet that has plummeted since 1990, while the total number of vessels has stabilized.

United States' EEZ territories

Controlled areas including Hawaii, Midway Islands, Wake Island, Guam, Kingman Reef, Palmyra Atoll, Howland and Baker Islands, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.