Designations of large Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs) triggered a controversial debate within the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) concerning the legal basis of PSSAs, the relationship between the IMO’s PSSA guidelines and UNCLOS, as well as the competency of IMO to adopt mandatory protective measures in these areas. As a result, IMO conducted a review process which led to substantially updated guidelines adopted in late 2005. This book provides a detailed analysis of the PSSA guidelines and protective measures available in PSSAs. Emphasis is placed on their legal basis and the implications for coastal states' jurisdiction over vessel-source pollution.

High Seas Governance: Gaps and Challenges identifies gaps in and challenges to the existing legal regime in the protection and preservation of the marine environment of the high seas, including sensitive marine areas. The gaps identified in the book include the failure of liability and compensation schemes to cover pollution of the high seas and the fact that no state has the responsibility to clean up pollution of the high seas. One common theme of the book is that it is necessary to identify a state other than flag states, port states or coastal states, which should have an obligation to exercise jurisdiction and control over certain activities on the high seas.

This title is designed for law of the sea and maritime law specialists. The coverage includes current affairs in martime law such as submarine cables, polar areas, environmental protection, sovereign immunity and sunken ships, and maritime law enforcement.

Written by scholars and practitioners, this work consists of 20 multidisciplinary chapters addressing the law, policy and management aspects of the problem of places of refuge for ships in need of assistance. Specific chapters focus on the experiences and approaches of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom and United States.

New Knowledge and Changing Circumstances in the Law of the Sea focuses on the challenges posed to the existing legal framework, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the various ways in which States are addressing these challenges.

International Marine Economy offers contributions from marine experts around the globe on the economic impacts of recent developments in international waters. From the South China Arbitration Award to the Bay of Bengal Case, this text includes important writings on Artic Shipping and Fisheries, the deep seabed, resources and maritime boundary regimes and studies the possibility of a new international agreement regulating the conservation of biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Finally, it concludes by considering the challenges and opportunities of whaling in the Antarctic Case, ocean governance issues in Southeast Asia, and the exercise of control over foreign merchant vessels and state liability for wrong assessments. This volume offers much needed contemporary commentary from renowned scholars on rapidly evolving maritime topics.

The ocean has absorbed a significant portion of all human-made carbon dioxide emissions. This benefits human society by moderating the rate of climate change, but also causes unprecedented changes to ocean chemistry. Carbon dioxide taken up by the ocean decreases the pH of the water and leads to a suite of chemical changes collectively known as ocean acidification. The long term consequences of ocean acidification are not known, but are expected to result in changes to many ecosystems and the services they provide to society. Ocean Acidification: A National Strategy to Meet the Challenges of a Changing Ocean reviews the current state of knowledge, explores gaps in understanding, and identifies several key findings. Like climate change, ocean acidification is a growing global problem that will intensify with continued CO2 emissions and has the potential to change marine ecosystems and affect benefits to society. The federal government has taken positive initial steps by developing a national ocean acidification program, but more information is needed to fully understand and address the threat that ocean acidification may pose to marine ecosystems and the services they provide. In addition, a global observation network of chemical and biological sensors is needed to monitor changes in ocean conditions attributable to acidification.