The continental margin is the zone of the ocean floor that separates the thin oceanic crust from the thick continental crust. It includes the continental shelf, continental slope, and continental rise. Continental margins are key areas for studying sediment deposition, tectonic activity, and the interaction between land and ocean systems. They are also important for oil and gas exploration.
Source Carter, L., Carter, R. M., & McCave, I. N. (2004). “Evolution of the Sedimentary System on the Pacific Margin of Eastern New Zealand.” Marine Geology, 205(1-4), 9-27.