I. Precautionary Approach: Governments and others must actively support the effective implementation of this important, evolving principle in international law and policy which prescribes prevention.

II. Fisheries/Aquaculture: There is a global fisheries crisis. Part of the problem derives from there being too many fishing boats, especially large-scaled vessels whose capacity greatly exceeds the amount of fish that can be caught on a sustainable basis.

1. The world's large-scale, industrial fishing fleet, comprised of factory trawlers, longliners and other large, multi-purpose fishing vessels, must be cut by at least 50% by 2005.

2. Subsidies for destructive fishing practices and technologies must be eliminated, reflagging and "flags of convenience" fishing vessels need to be banned, the "export" of large-scale fishing vessels from northern to southern countries' waters must be halted.

3. In order to prevent the destruction of coastal mangroves or other ecologically sensitive areas, a global, open-ended moratorium should be adopted on any further expansion shrimp aquaculture development unless it is both ecologically sound and socially equitable.

III. Whales/Marine Mammals: The current International Whaling Commission (IWC) moratorium on commercial whaling is in jeopardy, and unless firm action is taken to bring the situation under control.

4. IWC Member States at this year's 50^th anniversary session in Oman must stop all commercial whaling and keep all whalers out of international whale sanctuaries.

IV. Toxic/Hazardous Wastes: Despite some positive steps, e.g., the ban on sea dumping of toxic waste and ocean incineration, environmentally harmful ocean dumping practices continue on several fronts.

5. Governments and others must secure the effective implementation of the ban on the dumping of toxic and nuclear wastes at sea, including expeditions ratification and promotion of early entry into force of the 1996 London convention Protocol.

6. Governments must ban the dumping of oil platforms and other offshore installations at sea.

V. Radioactive Discharges: Nuclear reprocessing facilities in Europe are the source of continuing discharges and emissions causing unacceptable marine pollution.

7. The OSPAR Ministerial Conference in Lisbon, Portugal in July 1998 must commit to banning the discharge of radioactive reprocessing wastes into the marine environment.

VI. Nuclear Transport at Sea: Transport by sea of plutonium, spent nuclear fuel and high level radioactive waste continues wit insufficient control and regularization, despite environmental risks.

VII. Climate Change: The world's ecosystems and social structures continue to be threatened by climate change. Stopping the expansion of industrialized country fossil fuel reserves, including but not limited to those identified in marine and coastal areas, is the logical first step in the longer term phasing out of fossil fuels.

8. Industrialized governments planning to develop coastal or offshore oil fields should cancel those plans, announcing instead the start of their shift to a fossil free fuel.

VIII. Vessel Source Pollution: Oil and hazardous substance spills wreak havoc on marine and coastal ecosystems, reflecting one of the many deadly consequences of world dependence on oil as a major energy source.

9. The IMO must develop comprehensive, effective environmental and liability/compensation standards for oil tankers and other vessels, as well as all offshore oil and gas activities.

IX. Law of the Sea Treaty: the benefits of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea are substantial, including its basic duties for all states to protect and preserve the marine environment and to conserve marine living species.

X. Marine Biodiversity: Marine and coastal diversity serves as the foundation of the natural ecosystem that produce and maintain fisheries and other marine life. Marine biodiversity, however, is increasing under threat.

10. Governments should take steps within the CBD, IMO and elsewhere to prevent the introduction of alien species, including genetically modified organisms (GMOs), into the marine environment.