Oceans 2020 presents a comprehensive assessment of the most important science and societal issues that are likely to arise in marine science and ocean management in the next twenty years. Sponsored by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR), and the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE), the book brings together the world's leading ocean scientists and researchers to analyze the state of marine science and technology, identify key scientific issues for sustainable development, and evaluate the capability of scientists, governments, and private-sector stakeholders to respond to those issues. Topics include:

• basic ocean sciences


• pressures on the coastal zone


• climate change and the ocean


• fisheries and fishery science in their search for sustainability


• offshore industries including oil drilling, carbon sequestration, and manganese nodule mining


• marine information for shipping and defense

Oceans 2020 suggests what can be done about major marine environmental issues through the better development and application of marine science and technology, focusing on the issues that are most closely related to human and sustainable development. It will help guide countries in developing their marine science and technology strategies and priorities and is an essential source of information for policymakers, government officials, resource managers, scientists, the media, and all those concerned with the current and future health of the oceans.

J. G. Field is professor in the zoology department at the University of Cape Town in Rondebosch, South Africa and president of the Paris-based International Council for Science (ICSU).

G. Hempel is professor emeritus at the University of Kiel and science advisor to the Senate of Bremen in Germany.

C. P. Summerhayes is director of the GOOS Project Office at the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) in Paris.