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Editor's Introduction
Dear Colleague,
It has been quite clear to me for several years that a series of reviews carried out sea-by-sea or region-by-region would be useful to many marine scientists. These reviews would ideally cover that range of environmental and pollution subjects which are of greatest importance in the areas or sea being considered. They should not be discipline-related reviews but area-specific, focusing on the degree and causes of habitat and ecosystem changes, environmental effects in that area from run-off, eutrophication, land-fill, industrial discharge, and so on. In other words, a review which authoritatively summarises the literature on seas region by region, and which provides key references. This has been done. Seas at the Millennium: An Environmental Evaluation, is to be published in three volumes by Elsevier Science. Over 100 chapters by leading authors will provide an encyclopaedic summary of the environmental condition of our seas at the close of this millennium. There are also about 30 more chapters on global issues, habitats or events which are not area specific. A consistent format has been applied throughout, while allowing the widely different problems and conditions in different regions to be addressed as necessary. In all cases, natural environmental variables are described, followed by a brief account of the major shallow water marine and coastal habitats. Pelagic systems are also included. The main body of each account includes an assessment of human populations affecting the area, their historical uses of it, such as fishing, and their effects on the habitats. Depending on the region, watershed rural factors, such as agriculture and concomitant runoff, habitat alteration, coastal erosion, landfill and building developments, and of course effects from urban and industrial activities are also considered. Protective measures which either exist or which are needed are included, and the most pressing problems identified, including the degree to which measures have achieved their objectives. Successes in mitigation, conservation and restoration is also be highlighted as each chapter is to be first and foremost a tool for positive ways forward. The global issue chapters cover major habitats and species groups, governmental, education and legal issues, fisheries effects, remote sensing, climate change and management. Seas at the Millennium: An Environmental Evaluation has been a huge undertaking by several hundred marine scientists. We all intend that it will be a useful foundation for marine environmental science for the year 2000 and beyond!
This letter is based upon an Editorial which was originally published in Marine Pollution Bulletin 36(9), 652
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