International law and policy on marine environmental protection and management: Trends and prospects

International law relevant to the protection and preservation of the marine environment is well-developed. An appendix to this paper provides summary information on its main components. The basic rules on States' rights and obligations have been established and are generally accepted, and special regimes specific to certain sources of pollution, with the notable exception of land-based sources—the main source of marine degradation—have been operational for some time. Some future developments will be specific to the marine environment, where the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea provides the necessary framework; others reside with the progressive development of international environmental law generally; yet others will depend on a reorientation of international policies, particularly in the economic domain.