Mapping Oceans, Lakes, and Rivers : The EU's Commitment to Our Planet
It is impracticable to envisage a being who fails to appreciate the beauty and significance of the ocean. Almost every person living on this planet is affected by the association between oceans, seas, lakes and other bodies of water whether directly or indirectly. These bodies are associated with holiday experiences for many people. For others, they represent livelihoods—fishermen, freight carriers, sailors, navy personnel, cooks, and numerous other professionals depend on the seas. The health, accessibility, knowledge, and resources of these bodies of water are crucial for human prosperity. The European Union (EU) maintains that water bodies such as oceans, seas, coastlines, and freshwater sources are the earth’s respiratory system, which in turn generates approximately 50 percent of human respiration through oxygen production. They also offer us fresh edible commodities that make up about 16% of our total animal protein requirement. Additionally, they serve as the planet’s largest ...