ABSTRACT
Ocean shipping is central to the global economy. More than 90% of all goods transported internationally are carried on the ocean by ships (IMO Maritime Knowledge Centre 2012). Shipping and other ship-based activities have major effects on the health of the ocean. Between resource degradation from the overharvesting of fish, to invasive species introduced to waters distant from their native habitat, to various types of pollution discharged-intentional or otherwise-into the water or air as ships transport goods or people, considerable ocean degradation can be traced to the effects of ships.
