Spalding et al. (2007) describe this new biogeographic classification for the world’s coastal and shelf areas, which draws heavily on the existing global and regional literature. They believe that this classification will be of critical importance in supporting analyses of patterns in marine biodiversity, in understanding processes, and, perhaps most important, in directing future efforts in marine resource management and conservation.

Other important subdivisions of the world's oceans include the Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) and biogeochemical provinces.  Like the LME system, the Ecoregions currenlty include only the coastal areas.