<p>The ocean dynamics is predominantly driven by the shear between the atmospheric winds and ocean currents. The ocean mostly receives energy, but it can also lose energy. Building on 24-years of global satellite observations, the input of mechanical power to the ocean is analysed. A Fluctuation Theorem (FT) holds when the logarithm of the ratio between the occurrence of positive and negative events, of a certain magnitude of the power input, is a linear function of this magnitude and the averaging period. The input of mechanical power into the ocean shows evidence of a FT, for regions within the recirculation area of the subtropical gyre, but not over extensions of Western Boundary Currents. A FT puts a strong constraint on the temporal distribution of fluctuations of power input, connects variables obtained with different length of temporal averaging and guides the temporal down- and up-scaling and constrains the occurrence of extreme events.</p>