Ocean Facts

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What is the law of the sea?

The law of the sea is a body of customs, treaties, and international agreements by which governments maintain order, productivity, and peaceful relations on the sea. NOAA has a unique role in administering the law of the sea: Its nautical charts provide the scientifically derived baseline that marks the inner limit of the territorial sea and the outer limit of internal waters, such as bays and rivers. This determines where U.S. territorial waters begin for purposes of international law. Read more

What's New

National Ocean Service Mission: In the U.S., where over half of us live along the coast and more than 78 percent of our overseas trade by volume comes and goes along our marine highways, the health of our coasts is intricately connected to the health of our nation's economy. The National Ocean Service (NOS) translates science, tools, and services into action, to address threats to coastal areas such as climate change, population growth, port congestion, and contaminants in the environment, all working towards healthy coasts and healthy economies. About NOS