Fisheries, recreation, transportation, waste disposal, mineral extraction . . . the world's seas are subject to an incredibly diverse range of uses. Until now, these have mostly been considered on a use by use basis, with a wide range of separate organizations involved in government, private and voluntary sectors. The Development of Integrated Sea Use Management examines the movement towards integrated management of these conflicting uses, and their environmental impacts.

Three key points for integrated management are identified: the theme of maritime boundary delimitation which governs the allocation of sea space among states; the management of individual uses, which remains a cornerstone upon which integrated management can be built; and the regional basis of integrated ocean management. This study covers a broad range of case studies within each sphere, in both developed and developing countries, and from coastal estuaries to the deep ocean.