Life on Earth could not exist without marine microbes. They produce half of the oxygen on the planet, helped to create the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere, and form the base of the marine food web. Microbes make Earth livable for the rest of us! See the resources below for a wide range of materials related to marine microbes, including lesson plans, hands-on activities, games, videos, and teacher professional development opportunities.
In December 2004, President Bush submitted the "U.S. Ocean Action Plan" to Congress in response to the recommendation made by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. The activities outlined in the Administration’s response will help assure that the benefits we currently derive from our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes, will be available to future generations.
In the first thorough review of ocean policy in 34 years, the Pew Oceans Commission released a host of recommendations in 2003 to guide the way in which the federal government will successfully manage America’s marine environment. The report found that more than 60 percent of America’s coastal rivers and bays are degraded by nutrient runoff. Crucial species like groundfish and salmon are under assault from overfishing. Invasive species are establishing themselves in the nation’s coastal waters. The Final Report of the Pew Oceans Commission finds that proven, workable solutions to the crisis in our oceans exist, but such successes will remain the exception rather than the rule until we chart a new course for ocean management.
