Introduction to Part II: National Case Studies

This book (Part II of a volume on “Oil Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea”) presents a review of knowledge on oil pollution in the Mediterranean Sea, through a series of national and regional case studies. Making use of a range of data on oil extraction and production activities, oil transportation, satellite technology, aerial surveillance, in situ monitoring, oil spill sampling and oil fingerprinting, for example, it presents a picture of trends in oil pollution in various areas of the region over many years. It examines national practices in a number of Mediterranean Sea states. A range of legislative measures are in place to protect the marine environment of the region. For example, the Mediterranean Sea and its various regions, such as the Adriatic Sea, have Special Status for the prevention of pollution by oil from ships under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and its Protocols (MARPOL 73/78 Convention). At the same time, the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution (Barcelona Convention, 1976) and its various protocols provide a legislative framework under which countries in the region can work together to cooperate in preventing pollution from ships, for example, and work together to combat pollution in the event of an emergency. National contingency planning and oil pollution preparedness and response activities and the work of the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Centre (REMPEC) for the Barcelona Convention’s contracting parties are also discussed within various national case studies. This book brings together the work of scientists, legal and policy experts, academic researchers and specialists in various fields relating to marine environmental protection, satellite monitoring, oil pollution and the Mediterranean Sea.