what were the oceans like a million years ago? where there lots of fish and plants?

Question: what were the oceans like a million years ago? where there lots of fish and plants?

Asked by nuckles to Maria on 18 Jun 2010 in Categories: Your Research.
- Maria Pawlowska answered on 18 Jun 2010:
  
  Hi Nuckles, millions of years ago there was plenty of fish, some mammals (like whale ancestors) and loads of seaweedy stuff. But a billion years ago, which is the time period that I study the oceans looked barren to the naked eye.

Question: what were the oceans like a million years ago? where there lots of fish and plants?