The control of land-based sources of marine pollution: Recent international initiatives and prospects

Abstract

There is ample evidence that the oceans cannot provide the infinite sink for wastes and sustain the level of resource extraction and coastal zone development that was originally thought possible. There is also consensus that land-based sources of marine pollution are not adequately addressed and further serious degradation of the marine environment will occur without concerted new action. The expectation for the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) is that this challenge will be met through a renewed commitment by all states to prevent, reduce and control degradation of the marine environment from land-based sources of pollution and activities.