The U.S. marine sector generated $777 billion in sales, supported 2.4 jobs and accounted for $476 billion in economic impact in 2022, according to data released June 6 by NOAA and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The annual Marine Economy Satellite Account (MESA) data highlighted tourism and recreation as the sector’s biggest contributor with $163 billion, followed by national defense and public administration with $149 billion and offshore minerals with $62 billion. Meanwhile, the sectors that displayed the most growth for 2022 were ship and boat building with a 14.6% increase, coastal tourism and recreation with an 8.1% uptick and…