it is a key source of food energy minerals health leisure and transport upon which hundreds of millions of people depend however the maritime industry landscape is poised to undergo a profound transition long considered the traditional domain of shipping fishing and since the s offshore oil and gas new activities are emerging that are reshaping and diversifying maritime industries while traditional maritime industries continue to innovate at a brisk rate it is the emerging ocean industries that are attracting most of the attention these industries include offshore wind tidal and wave energy oil and gas exploration and production in ultradeep water and exceptionally harsh environments offshore aquaculture seabed mining cruise tourism maritime surveillance and marine biotechnology the longterm potential for innovation employment creation and economic growth offered by these sectors is impressive