From the Foreword by The Rt Hon Sir Ninian Stephen AC, GCMG, GCVO, KBE'... a sure legal guide to one great area of concern to all who journey on the sea or care for its waters and its shores ... survey of what State and Territory and national and international law each has to offer by way of protection from pollution of the waters that surround us is as timely as it is comprehensive. The inclusion of the relevant domestic law of New Zealand and of Papua New Guinea reminds us that our neighbour nations with whom we share those waters also share with us the same concerns.'

The book analyses the international conventions, the Australian and New Zealand legislation and the regulatory structures in both countries relating to the protection and preservation of the marine environment from ship pollution. It concentrates on the important aspects of the marine environment and its protection and preservation in the light of the huge tonnages of vital trade goods carried by many merchant ships to and from the Australasian region.This second edition sets out:the sources of pollution of the coastal seas; the UN international conventions on the marine environment; the International Maritime Organization conventions; marine salvage; the complexities of the Australian offshore jurisdiction covering the Commonwealth States; the New Zealand offshore jurisdiction; some of the key aspects of regulatory governance and infrastructure; and the status of the IMO conventions on shipping and the marine environment.

This book is a comprehensive guide to Australian coastal and marine law. Since the landmark enactment of the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973 (Cth), and the subsequent High Court decision in NSW v Commonwealth, there have been rapid developments in Australian coastal and marine law and policy. The Offshore Constitutional Settlement paved the way for offshore management between the Commonwealth, States and the Northern Territory, and from this foundation a raft of new environmental laws were adopted in the 1980s and 1990s, often promoted by international developments such as the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or through new marine pollution conventions adopted by the International Maritime Organisation. The book particularly reflects upon how Australian law regulates and manages a range of environmental issues which arise in the coastal zone and the marine environment. The Australian maritime domain is the focus of analysis, including all areas within State and Territorial jurisdiction, and areas within Commonwealth control and regulation. Activities that are subject to specific consideration include the continental shelf, fishing, indigenous rights, marine parks, marine pollution, ports and harbours, and shipping.