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In 2000, Pacific Islands Handbook Of International Marine Pollution Conventions was Published by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This handbook was compiled under the auspices of the Pacific Ocean Pollution Prevention Programme (PACPOL).

In a region sometimes called 'Oceania', the health of the ocean is fundamental to the health of all aspects of the entire Pacific Islands region. 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.

Report on the Strategic Environmental Assessment Oil Spill Incident USS Mississinewa, Ulithi Lagoon, Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia : Draft, 18th September, 2001 / by Trevor Gilbert

As island states located within the world's largest ocean, the member countries of SPREP are over- whelmingly dependent on shipping. Despite the ben- efits and necessity of shipping, this human use of the ocean cau also cause a range of sometimes severe environmental impacts.