The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is one of the largest organizations that focuses on the ocean and exploration in the United States. This organization was established in 1970 because the President and Congress at the time believed that learning more about our oceans and the purposes of exploration. 

The ocean had not been put at the forefront of the nation's "problems" and this organization would allow members of the public to gain new knowledge about the ocean and further share this knowledge to keep science alive, and to also protect oneself in the face of any natural causes/harm (US Department of Commerce, NOAA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, n.d.).  Two of NOAA's subcategories that are useful in learning more about the ocean and ocean exploration are the "Ocean and Coasts" page and the "Fisheries" page for learning more about marine life, and more specifically, fish.

Expeditions to explore and chart the ocean's mysterious and little-known areas are supported by NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. New sonar equipment has only been used to chart approximately ten percent of the world's oceans. The United States Coast Survey has been creating nautical charts since the mid-1830s. 

The ocean is a huge portion of the planet, influencing nature, controlling temperature, and essentially sustaining all life. Despite our dependence on the ocean, more than 80% of its vast, underwater world remains unexplored (NOAA, 2021).