In this issue of Oceanography, the majority of the papers presented focus on the harmful health effects of the oceans created by oceanic events, anthropogenic influences, and harmful marine life. These are important issues that dramatically affect human health, but at the same time this view does not reflect the fact that we are just now realizing some of the health-related benefits from the oceans. Comprising 34 of the 36 Phyla of life, marine ecosystems are indeed our last genetic diversity and biotechnological frontier; terrestrial systems possess only 17 Phyla. We have much to learn.

Fenical, W. 2006. Marine pharmaceuticals: Past, present, and future. Oceanography 19(2):110–119, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2006.74.

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