The Global Program of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities

Pollution from land-based activities is considered one of the major causes of the degradation of the marine environment. Land-based activities contribute about 70 percent of all pollution in the oceans (the remainder coming from offshore activities such as discharges from vessels, oil and gas exploration or offshore mining of minerals). The damages caused by land-based pollution to the marine environment include loss of habitats, and disruption of ecological cycles.