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Over two-thirds of the world’s surface is covered by water. Open oceans, semi-enclosed or enclosed seas, coastal areas, estuaries, rivers and lakes are host to highly diverse ecosystems that span all of earth’s climatologic zones. The productivity of these ecosystems has largely shaped development of human society and led to human settlement along coastal margins. Globally, the number of people living within 100 km of the coast increased from ca 2 billion in 1990 to 2.2 billion in 1995, or 39 percent of the world’s population (WRI 2006). The number continues to increase.

Marine pollution is widely recognised as one of the three major threats to the world's oceans, along with habitat destruction and over-exploitation of living marine resources. Spills of oil and other chemicals into the marine environment, both from ships and land-based sources, is a significant source of pollution. The importance of coastal and marine environments to every aspect of the lives of Pacific Islanders cannot be overstated, and the impacts of marine spills constitute a major concern for Pacific Island peoples. On a global scale the land area of Pacific Island Countries and Territories are insignificant. However the Pacific Islands maintain resource rights and management responsibilities over 30 million square kilometres of ocean. This is equivalent to the combined land areas of Canada. China and the USA and is essentially our only "globally significant" resource.

Marine pollution is widely recognised as one of the three major threats to the world's oceans, along with habitat destruction and over-exploitation of living marine resources. Spills of oil and other chemicals into the marine environment, both from ships and land-based sources, is a significant source of pollution. The importance of coastal and marine environments to every aspect of the lives of Pacific Islanders cannot be overstated, and the impacts of marine spills constitute a major concern for Pacific Island peoples. On a global scale the land area of Pacific Island Countries and Territories are insignificant. However the Pacific Islands maintain resource rights and management responsibilities over 30 million square kilometres of ocean. This is equivalent to the combined land areas of Canada. China and the USA and is essentially our only "globally significant" resource.