In the last half-century, human impact on the sea has changed. Ships have become bigger. The potential for oil pollution has increased. Offshore oil and gas have become worldwide businesses. Fishing has been transformed.
New chemicals threaten our seas.
And there is growing demand for sea-bed mining. But the world is also now much more aware of the influence we have on the sea, and how the sea affects us. To plead ignorance is now unacceptable. That is a crucial change if we are to increase public support to tackle environmental problems. International action We are in the middle of the International Year of the Ocean, which will reach a conclusion with a review of the world's priorities for action on the marine environment in April 1999.