This volume collects a number of essays and articles from about twenty experts in various fields connected to marine environmental issues. These essays were first presented at the XXVIII Pacem in Maribus Conference held in December 2000, at the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea in Hamburg, Germany. The purpose of the Conference was to enhance awareness of the European public, governments, the private sector and academia about the importance of responsible ocean and coastal management based on ocean science. Reflecting the innovative interdisciplinary approach of the conference, these volume groups contributors from leading biologists, political scientists, geographers, and jurists according to specific regional relevance and not along strict disciplinary lines. This approach allows the experts to treat marine issues concerning regions such as the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, or the Black Sea in a comprehensive manner.
This collection could become an essential instrument for scholars and scientists working within the field of marine environmental issues.

Translated by: H.L. Sutcliffe, M. McDonald