Includes bibliographical references and index.

Notes on the contributors -- Acknowledgements -- --PART I -- Introduction and general framework for the international marine environmental law -- 1 Contemporary issues in the protection and conservation of the marine environment: an overview ----Sandya Nishanthi Gunasekara and Md Saiful Karim -- --2 Ocean governance and marine environmental conservation: concepts, principles and institutions ----Abul Hasanat and Md Saiful Karim -- --PART II -- Prevention of marine pollution -- 3 Prevention, reduction and control of marine pollution from land-based sources and activities ----Daud Hassan and Stan Palassis -- --4 Prevention, reduction and control of marine pollution from ships ----Mahatab Uddin and Md Saiful Karim -- --5 Control and prevention of marine pollution from offshore hydrocarbon and mineral resources exploration and production activities ----Hossein Esmaeili -- --6 Climate change, ocean acidification and the marine environment: challenges for the international legal regime ----Tavis Potts -- --7 Marine spatial planning and the new frontiers of marine governance----Niko Soininen and Daud Hassan -- --PART III -- Conservation and management of marine living resources -- 8 Conservation of marine living resources and fisheries management----Daud Hassan and Emdadul Haque -- --9 Marine protected areas: contemporary challenges and developments----Erika Techera -- --10 Recognition of Indigenous rights in governance of marine protected areas: applying international law and Australian experiences ----Donna Craig -- --PART IV -- Polar regions -- 11 Protection of the Antarctic marine environment: dimensions, relationships and fields----Tuomas Kuokkanen -- --12 Protection of the arctic marine environment ----Timo Koivurova and Nengye Liu -- --PART V -- Settlement of disputes and conclusions 223 -- 13 Contemporary marine environmental disputes ----Daud Hassan and Beatriz Garcia -- --14 Future of international marine environmental law and policy: concluding remarks ----Daud Hassan and Asraful Alam -- --Index.

Several disturbing issues pose a threat to the marine environment and its wellbeing, among them marine environmental pollution and degradation of marine biodiversity. Most troubling is that these issues are overwhelmingly caused by human activities which are sometimes transboundary, and their consequences will become more severe and complicated if not properly curbed. Thus, these activities require comprehensive policies, laws, and principles to manage them effectively. Linked to these solutions is the need for responsibilities, cooperation and commitments at local, national, regional and international levels. Contemporary Marine Environmental Law and Policy presents a thorough appraisal of the main issues, actors and institutions engaged in the legal aspects of marine environmental conservation. With contributions from an international range of authors, the book provides a concise account of the legal and policy framework underlying international marine environmental issues, and of the fundamental concepts and strategies that are important to the protection of the marine environment. Some of the topics explored include: the prevention of marine pollution caused by land based activities, ships, and offshore hydrocarbon and mineral resources exploration; the conservation and management of marine living resources; the marine environment in the polar regions; and the settlement of marine environmental disputes. This book provides a solid foundation for anyone studying International Environmental Law and the Law of the Sea. It will also appeal to anyone seeking to gain a deeper understanding of this hugely important subject.

Also available in print format.