When most people think of the ocean, the first thing that comes to their mind is the beach. But the ocean is used for many other things that some people don’t even realize. It’s important for coastal economies—tourism and fishing industries depend on the ocean. Also, the ocean controls our climate by absorbing carbon dioxide, and provides us with pharmaceutical ingredients. Habitats along the coast protect people from storms and flooding. How do you measure these benefits? Some are easier to measure, like tourism and fishing, but other benefits are harder to quantify.