1. of, relating to, or living in the shallow waters of the ocean near the coast, above the continental shelf
Usage: technical; marine biology

Examples

• Neritic zones support diverse ecosystems with abundant light and nutrients.
• Fish species in neritic waters are often more abundant than in deeper ocean regions.
• The neritic environment extends from the shoreline to the edge of the continental shelf.
• Coral reefs thrive in neritic areas where sunlight penetrates the water.
• Neritic sediments are typically composed of sand, silt, and organic material from coastal sources.