The Oceans: Key Issues in Marine Affairs: (78 GeoJournal Library)

HANCE D. SMITH 1. Introduction The millennium has been widely regarded as a time to take stock among other things, of the planet and its relationships with the people who inhabit it. Why this should be so is not always clear, apart from an apparent fixation with counting years. Further, the fact that the counting itself is based on the origins of the Christian religion is, for many, not of primary significance. Even if it is, counting in this way may still not be clear. And yet there are arguably sound reasons for taking stock at this time. Most obviously since the European 'industrial revolution' pressures on the environment caused by human activities have increased inexorably. At global level, over the past three decades in particular, environmental concerns have undoubtedly become a major political force. In a marine context, the Law of the Sea Convention concluded in 1982 is one manifestation of this. These pressures are in turn linked to technological and economic factors which are inextricably intertwined in any understanding of environmental impacts. Of special note are the implications of this for the exploitation of marine resources, in the periodic 'long waves' of economic expansion and contraction, each lasting for around or just over half a century, coupled with technological advances evident in the fishing and offshore oil industries in particular.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction.- 2. Theglobal setting.- 3. The uses of the sea.- 4. Regional geography.- 1. The Geography of the Sea.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Marine Geography.- 3. From Traditional to Urban Industrial to Post Industrial.- 4. Marine Geography, Ocean and Coastal Management: Setting a Course.- 5. Conclusion: A Research and Teaching Agenda.- References.- 2. The Law of the Sea at the Millennium.- 1. UNCLOS at the Millennium.- 2. Settlement of Disputes under UNCLOS.- 3. Maritime Boundaries.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).- 3. Boundary Delimitation.- 4. Unfinished Business.- 5. Conclusion.- References.- 4. Geography and Geo-Strategy of the Oceans.- 1. Theoretical Foundations of the Geo-Strategy of the Oceans.- 2. General Methodological Approach of Research into the Geo-Strategy of the Oceans.- 3. Research Perspectives and Directions for the Future.- 4. Conclusions.- References and Notes.- 5. Maritime Transport.- 1. The Recent Evolution of the WorldFleet and the Revolution in Sea Transport.- 2. Fleet Developments and Organisation.- 3. Conclusion.- 6. Offshore Oil and Gas at the Millennium.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Market and Price Trends.- 3. Contribution of Offshore Production.- 4. Offshore Exploration and Development.- 5. Reserves.- 6. Opportunities for the Millennium.- 7. Challenges for the Millennium.- 8. Conclusions.- References.- 7. Fisheries.- 1. The State of Resources. The Generalisation of Overfishing.- 2. New Fishing Powers: The Boom in the Market, A Slump for Fishers.- 3. Fishing and the Governance of the Oceans.- References.- 8. The Use of the Sea for Recreation and Tourism.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Importance of the Sea.- 3. The Importance of Marine Settings for Recreation and Tourism.- 4. Problems and Challenges for the 21st Century.- References.- 9. Managing Marine Waste Disposal.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Waste Issue.- 3. The Context for Marine Waste Management: General Issues and Trends.- 4. Discussion: Current, Emerging and Future Marine Waste Issues.- 5. Conclusions: Final Comments.- References.- 10. Marine Conservation and Resource Management.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Out of Sight — Out of Mind.- 3. Marine Resource Management — Sustainable Development!.- 4. Marine Nature Conservation — Protecting Marine Wildlife and Habitats.- 5. Marine Pollution — Prevention and Cure!.- 6. Awareness, Human Resources and Partnerships.- References.- 11. The North Atlantic.- 1. Geographic Site.- 2. Historical Background.- 3. The 18th and 19th Centuries.- 4. The 20th Century.- 5. Managing the North Atlantic Ecosystem.- 6. Living Marine Resources.- 7. Northeast Atlantic.- 8. Northwest Atlantic.- 9. The High Seas.- 10. Mariculture.- 11. Marine Pollution.- 12. Commercial Shipping.- 13. Other Activities.- 14. Potential Future Trends in the North Atlantic.- References and Notes.- 12. The Mediterranean and Black Seas.- 1. The Large Mediterranean Marine Region.- 2. Articulated Physical Contexts.- 3. Variability in Ecological Conditions.- 4. The Changing Geopolitical Context.- 5. Sea Use Development.- 6. Regional Co-operation.- References.- 13. Multilateral Management of Northeast Asian Seas: Problems and Prognosis.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Ongoing and Potential Cooperation: Enhancing the Epistemic Community.- China and Japan.- 3. Conclusions.- References andNotes.- 14. The Arctic Ocean.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Resources.- 3. Environmental Status.- 4. Ethnic Problems.- 5. International Environmental and Scientific Co-operation.- 6. Perspective.- 7. Conclusion.- Main Sources.- 15. The Southern Ocean.- 1. The Southern Ocean Area.- 2. The Southern Ocean and the Antarctic Treaty Regime.- 3. Southern Ocean Maritime Zones.- 4. Antarctic Environmental Protection: The 1991 Madrid Protocol.- 5. Southern Ocean Resource Management.- 6. Other International Regimes operating in the Southern Ocean.- 7. Conclusion.- References.