Includes bibliographical references (p. 214-215) and index.

Chapters: How endangered are the world's oceans and costlines? -- What ocean management and conservation practices should be pursued? -- What strategies would best promote sustainable fishing? -- What impact do human activities have on marine mammals?

Essays Human activities threaten the world's oceans and coastal regions / Anne Platt McGimm -- Human efforts are improving the condition of the world's oceans and coastal regions / Frank E. Loy -- The world's ocean fisheries are seriously threatened / Carl Safina -- Private conservation offers hope for ocean fisheries / Michael DeAlessi -- Rising sea levels threaten coastal regions / Don Hinrichsen -- Claims that sea levels are rising are unproven / John L.Daly -- Increased regulation of cruise ship waste is necessary / Kira Schmidt -- Voluntary efforts to control cruise ship waste are adequate / Ted Thompson -- Ocean Fertilization can reduce global warming / Michael Markels and Richard T.Barber -- Ocean Fertilization will harm the world's oceans / Sallie W.Chisholm, Paul G.Falkowski, and John F.Cullen -- Fully protected marine reserves will promote sustainable fishing / David White -- Fully protected marine reserves do not always promote sustainable fishing / Robert L.Shipp -- Individual fishing quotas will benefit U.S. fisheries / Donald R.Leal -- Individual fishing quotas may not benefit fisheries / Kaitilin Gaffney -- Federal regulation of aquaculture is necessary / Revecca F.Goldburg -- Alternatives to government regulation will promote the growth of aquaculture / Ferdinand F.Wirth and E.Jane Juzar -- The ban on comercial whaling protects endangered whales / Greenpeace -- The ban on commercial whaling is unnecessary and unfair / William Aron, William Burke, and Milton Freeman -- Antisubmarine Sonar threatens marine mammals / Nathan LaBudde -- Antisubmarine Sonar does not threaten marine mammals / Dennis V.McGinn -- Keeping marine mammals captive in theme parks promotes conservation / George Mannina -- Keeping marine mammals captive in theme parks is cruel / Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.