Marine Pollution: Monitoring, Management and Mitigation

This open access textbook focuses on marine pollution, its sources and effects, and further provides a management context which is vital for global food safety and security. The introductory section of the textbook introduces the concept of marine pollution and highlights the multidisciplinary approach required to tackle the problem. It provides an outline of the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of oceans and how they are used and valued by humans. A detailed conceptual diagram is provided here to explain the sources, distribution processes, and sinks of pollutants highlighted in later chapters (section two) of the textbook. Chapter 2 focuses on field and laboratory methods and approaches for monitoring contaminants in the marine environment, and Chapter 3 introduces ecotoxicological methods to assess organism and ecosystem responses. Section two of the book deals with different types of pollutants, their chemical and physical behavior, and case studies highlighting effects on biota and ecological systems. The third section provides forward looking perspectives including a chapter dealing with multiple stressors, another with a solutions orientated guide to pollution mitigation and habitat restoration, with the final chapter providing a critique of global regulatory approaches and agreements that help abate marine pollution.