The El Niño phenomenon described in this chapter is a very important aspect of the marine environment because of its relationship to weather patterns in many parts of the world. The History of El Niño page describes the processes by which scientists have come to understand the phenomenon and its connections to unusual weather patterns. The El Niño Theme Page provides access to both basic information and the latest updates and analysis of El Niño from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The World Bank's FishNet page describes efforts to increase fish catches for small-scale fishers and other projects related to improving and protecting fisheries.

Kimberly Amaral, a graduate writing student at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, has written a series of articles on oceanography, ocean pollution, and coastal issues for Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on Cape Cod. See especially her article on Ocean Debris.

On March 6, 1999, just prior to the tenth annivesary of the wreck of the tanker Exxon Valdez in Prince Willian sound, Alaska, National Public Radio aired an excellent, seventeen-minute report. At least 11-million gallons of heavy Alaskan crude oil poured out of the Exxon Valdez, overwhelming frantic cleanup crews, and killing thousands, perhaps millions of animals. Today, the Sound is beautiful again, but the words Exxon Valdez still conjure up images of oil soaked birds suffocating to death, and beaches buried under toxic piles of thick black goo. NPR environment correspondent John Nielsen reports on environmental, economic, and social aftermath of the wreck.

The Oceans Campaign Page provides information about a variety of Greenpeace campaigns related to the protection of ocean resources.

In recognition of the importance of the marine environment, the United Nations declared 1998 the International Year of the Ocean (YOTO).