Editing Atlantic Ocean (section)

== Economy and transport ==
Atlantic shipping routes connect ports in Europe with the eastern coasts of North America. Other routes cross between Europe and South America or follow the African coast. Cargo ships carry manufactured goods between industrial ports, while tankers transport petroleum from producing regions to refineries and markets.

Fishing fleets operate on continental shelves and in productive current systems. Important fishing grounds occur in the North Atlantic where cold and warm water masses meet. Coastal states regulate access through exclusive economic zones, although some fish populations move across several national jurisdictions.

Offshore petroleum and natural gas production takes place in parts of the Gulf of Mexico, North Sea and Atlantic continental margins. Offshore wind farms have also been constructed in shallow coastal waters. Submarine communication cables cross the seabed and carry most electronic communication between the surrounding continents. Cable routes are selected to avoid steep slopes and areas with frequent submarine landslides.