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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.