South China Sea : control of land based sources of marine pollution : a regional overview. Part 1

In order to ensure the protection of the marine environment and to improve the health of oceans, the conservation and management of marine resources, in conjunction with the prevention and control of marine pollution, are significantly interlinked and important. However, "protection of the marine environment" is generally considered to refer to "protection from pollution". As one of the most significant threats to marine life, pollution affects the health of the living resources in the oceans. Control of marine pollution can, therefore, also be a safeguard for the sustainable protection of the marine environment. Like other parts of the world's oceans, the South China Sea in the East Asian region is being significantly polluted by land-based sources and requires effective control. This paper commences with a discussion on the marine environmental conditions of this region and highlights the various types of pollutants from various sources discharged into the marine environment.