In 2010, it is estimated that:
- More than 70 million Americans will visit beaches
- Nearly 60 million Americans will swim in coastal areas
- More than 21 million Americans will view or photograph scenery in coastal areas
Coastal Populations:
- Over 50% of the U.S. population lives within 50 miles of the coast
- Between 1980-2003, population in coastal counties increased by 33 million people or 28%
- The largest gain in coastal population was seen in the Pacific region
- In 2003, 23 of the 25 most densely populated counties were in coastal areas
- The United States shoreline measures 95,471 statute miles
- The national exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is the largest in the world – more than 4 million square miles
Oceans have a tremendous impact on the nation’s economy:
- One out of six jobs in the U.S. is marine-related
- Industries include: fishing & boating, tourism & recreation, ocean transport
- Ocean trade contributes over $700 billion yearly to the U.S. gross domestic product
- U.S. maritime transport carries 95% of the nation’s foreign trade
- Ships move 2 billion tons of freight in and out of U.S. ports
- Ocean trade employs 13 million Americans
- Coastal & marine waters support more than 28 million jobs
- Coastal areas are tourist destinations for 189 million Americans annually
- U.S. consumers spend $55 billion-plus for fishery products every year12
- National Ocean Economics Program. State of the U.S. Ocean and Coastal Economies., ONLINE. 2009. Available: http://www.OceanEconomics.org/nationalreport [7 May 2010]. [↩]
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Projected Participation in Marine Recreation: 2005 & 2010, National Survey on Recreation and the Environment 2000., ONLINE. 2005. Available: http://marineeconomics.noaa.gov/nsre/nsreforecast.pdf [7 May 2010]. [↩]
