Here I will discuss the history and symbolism's of various tattoo as per "The Tattoo Sourcebook by the editors of tattoofinder.com".
History:
The vastness and depth of the ocean, and the mysterious creatures in it, have long fascinated us. Water in all its forms - rivers, lakes, seas - its an alien dimension, as unfathomable as outer space. All societies have mythologized the sea, and many creations of myths start with the primordial waters from which the Earth is born. Therefore, a tattoo with an aquatic theme links us to to our distant past. These deep waters are inhabited by supernatural beings such as mermaids and mermen, sea monsters (like the infamous Loch Ness Monster) and gods and goddesses (Poseidon, Yemanja). The "otherworldly" nature of the aquatic relms has inspired painters (Monet, Turner), writers (Melville's Moby Dick, Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea) and movie makers (The Abyss, The Deep, Jaws).
Symbolism:
Different cultures ascribed different meanings to sea creatures. In the Celtic pantheon, for example the salmon has a major role as a symbol of wisdom, rebirth and prophecy. For the Japanese, the carp indicates dignity, courage and love. The Japanese Arowana is a symbol of status, and the fish tends to jump out of its waters, subsequently killing itself is seeing as a sacrifice of well wishing to the owner. The dolphin is accepted as a universal symbol of the New Age and communication with other relms. The starfish, for Roman Catholics, indicated the Virgin Mary, the "star of the sea." Water itself is akin to the womb. the feminine element, the Goddess and has links to the moon and the astrological signs of Pisces. Early Christians used the Ichthys, or fish symbol, as a secret sign of their allegiance to Christ. Aquatic tattoos range from individual creatures to whole seascapes rendered in beautiful green-blue hues that represent the beauty, mystery, and the depth of the ocean. Shells can indicate female sensuality. Nautically inspired tattoo imagery is a way of retaining the mystery of the waters, and indicates the hidden depths of the wearer.
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