ABSTRACT
The marine environment, with its vital diversity of marine and estuarine animals and plants, is an integral part of the natural and cultural heritage of the world. The task of protecting the marine environment from the threat of Land-Based Sources of Marine Pollution (LBSMP) is an emerging issue of international concern. Control of marine pollution can, therefore, also be a safeguard for the sustainable protection of the marine environment. Many of the polluting substances originating from land-based sources are of particular concern to the marine environment since they exhibit at the same time, toxicity, persistence and bioaccumulation in the food chain. As one of the most significant threats to marine life, pollution affects the health of the living resources in the oceans. In order to grasp the problems in their proper perspective, the author addresses contemporary issues of LBSMP. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
