Due to great concern that the sea is rapidly being destroyed by pollution, this second edition has been fully updated to reflect new perspectives of the threat of pollution in the sea, as well as giving the latest factual information. One view holds that a sea is a place where the wastes of modern society can be safely discharged, but increasing evidence suggests that it is an irreplaceable resource in danger of being irretrievably damaged. Such issues are emotive, and there continues to be a need for a dispassionate exploration of the scientific aspects of marine pollution. This book explains the scientific background to the issues as well as the issues themselves. It explains what the main inputs to the sea area, what happens to them, their effects on marine organisms and ecosystems, and their impacts on commercial fisheries and threats to human health. Case histories of pollution in particular geographical areas (the North Sea, Baltic, Mediterranean, Caspian and Caribbean) are examined. The final chapter discusses the assessment of pollution damage and the place of science in such assessment.