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Deep Sea FishingAn elder of the Banjo tribe hunts for fish off the coast of Sampela, Indonesia.

Photograph by Cory Richards, National Geographic

13 Pictures Capture Wonder and Bounty of Our Oceans

We depend on the ocean for food, recreation, as a weather regulator—and more. It in turn depends on us to keep it pristine.

Photo gallery byEdward Benfield

ByBecky Little

June 6, 2015

Monday is World Oceans Day. The blue kingdom, which covers three fourths of planet Earth, provides half the world’s oxygen, absorbs vast amounts of carbon dioxide emissions created by man, helps regulate climate, provides transportation routes for 90 percent of the world’s trade, and is one of the great sources of biodiversity.

To get us thinking about why the ocean is important, our photo editor pulled pictures from our archives that show our connection to the sea that surrounds us. We depend on it to take care of us—and it in turn depends on us.