The Ocean Touches Your Life Every Day

Meet the Barczaks from Newark, Del. Like most beach-goers, they arrive at the Delaware shore with plenty of gear in tow-- from boogie boards to fishing rods--ready for a day of sun, fun and relaxation.

The Barczaks are among more than 5 million people who visit the Delaware seashore each year, drawn like a magnet to the 24-mile stretch of coastline bordering the Atlantic Ocean.

Yet, when their day at the beach is over, the Barczaks' connection to the ocean will not end. And, neither will yours.

Whether you live in Delaware or thousands of miles from shore, the ocean touches your life
every day.

As you'll see highlighted here, the ocean turns up in a lot of places, from the toothpaste you brush your teeth with, to the clothes on your back.

For coastal states like Delaware, this ocean connection is even more inextricable. Nearly all of Delaware resides in the coastal plain, and our heritage and economy have long been linked to the sea through ports and shipping, fishing, tourism, other industries and much-treasured leisure-time activities.

Yet, increasing human pressures are impacting marine resources in Delaware and around the globe, resulting in polluted waters, declining fisheries, lost wetlands and other problems.

Through marine research and public education, the Universityof Delaware Sea Grant College Program is working to address a number of coastal challenges on behalf of Delawareans like the Barczaks and the ocean we all depend on.

As you read this section, we hope you will be reminded of the critical
importance of Delaware's marine resources and the role you play in their future.

A face cream manufactured by a major cosmetics line contains pseudopterosin, an anti-inflammatory compound extracted from the Caribbean sea whip, a kind of soft coral.

The top species of fish caught by Delaware's recreational anglers last year were black sea bass, tautog, Atlantic croaker, summer flounder, bluefish and weakfish. The top commercial finfish catch was weakfish. The blue crab was the state's most valuable commercial fishery at more than $5 million.

While her new teeth will come in soon, a product made from the skeletons of hard marine corals -- hydroxyapatite -- is remarkably similar to human bone and is being used in dental and medical implants. It can shore up areas of bone loss around the root of a tooth or fill in voids in fractured arms and legs.

Beach sand is mined in some areas of the world for elements like titanium -- the strong, light metal used to make space capsules, golf clubs and other products.

Many of the foods you eat contain marine compounds. Carrageenan, derived from the sugars in red algae, makes peanut butter more spreadable. It enhances the texture of ice cream, pudding and chocolate milk. It also improves the consistency and flow of toothpaste and other products.

A lot of our fuel, food and clothing travels to us by ship. Wilmington, Del., is the top port in North America for imports of bananas, fresh fruit and juice concentrate.

New drugs from the sea are destined to appear in her lifetime. A synthetic hormone copied from salmon already is helping to prevent osteoporosis in women who cannot take estogen. Clinical trials of other marine drugs show promise in treating chronic pain, cancer, arthritis and AIDS.

The ocean captivates us in literature and the arts. Dozen of books, films, paintings and musical compositions have been inspired by the sea--from Moby Dick to "Surfin' USA."

The ocean contains a bounty of minerals, ranging from gold in seawater to petroleum in the seafloor. SPI Pharma in Lewes, Del., is the world's largest manufacturer of antacid agents. The company extracts magnesium from Delaware Bay seawater for use in antacids such as Maalox.