Includes bibliographical references (p. 205-215) and index.

Human activities threaten the world' oceans and coastal regions / Anne Platt McGinn -- Human efforts are improving the conditions 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 De Alessi -- 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 neccessary / Kira Schmidt -- Voluntary efforts to control cruise ship waste are adequate / Ted Thompson -- Ocean fertilization can reduce global warming / Michael Markels, Richard T. Barber -- Ocean fertilization will harm the world's oceans / Sallie W. Chisholm, Paul G. Falkowski, John J. 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 / Kaitlin Gaffney -- Federal regulation of aquaculture is necessary / Rebecca J. Goldburg -- Alternatives to government regulation will promote the growth of aquaculture / Ferdinand F. Wirth, E. Jane Luzar -- The ban on commercial whaling protects endangered whales / Greenpeace -- The ban on commercial whaling is unnecessary and unfair / William Aron, William Burke, Milton Freeman -- Antisubmarine sonar threatens marine mammals / Nathan LaBudde -- Antisubmarine sonar does not threaten marine mammals / Dennis V. McGinn -- Keeping marine mammals captive in them parks promotes conservation / George Mannina -- Keeping marine mammals captive in theme parks is cruel / Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.