Ocean and Coastal Lands and Resources

Countries around the world and U.S. states frequently use different terms to describe the lands and resources lying within ocean and coastal waters. In the United States, the lands lying below the high tide line are often referred to as submerged lands, but the states are not consistent in this regard. Other resources lying below the high tide line frequently have various names applied to them as well. For the purposes of this toolkit, ocean and coastal lands and resources mean any inter-tidal or sub-tidal lands and resources that are covered at some point by salty water. While this toolkit focuses on ocean and related coastal waters, many of the concepts equally apply to freshwater underwater lands as well (such as those in the Great Lakes).

The resources referred to in this toolkit include all elements of the natural world that make up marine biodiversity, including those below. Pass your mouse over the resources listed on the left to see them illustrated.

Animals — permanently or temporarily embedded in the bottom sediments (usually sessile), live on top of the substrate (usually somewhat mobile), live in the water column (usually very mobile), or live above the water; Geographic space — on the bottom sediments, in the water column, on the water surface, or in the air; Plants — attached to the bottom sediments, floating through the water-column, or floating on top of the water; Bottom materials — including sediments, sand, reefs, minerals, and oil; and Water.