Building Sustainable Maritime Capacity

Over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. Nearly 40% of the world’s population lives within 60 miles of the ocean coast. The estimated value of the ocean economy is $3-6 trillion/year and ~50% of all international tourists travel to coastal areas. Under international law, countries own the natural resources in Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) within 200 nautical miles from their coastlines. The nations of the world are economically and militarily connected by the sea, yet many U.S. partners lack the capacity to establish and maintain their maritime sovereignty and security.