The global marine environment faces threats of pollution from a variety of land, sea and air-based sources. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC) offsite link addresses these threats primarily in Articles 207-212. Over the years since the LOSC was negotiated, several additional agreements have been developed to address specific types of pollution. In addition, with the growing recognition of the importance of the marine environment and the increasing threats to its health, many of these agreements have been strengthened to improve their effectiveness. These include the following agreements followed by their date of entry into force:

• The London Dumping Convention offsite link (08/30/75) (document download) and its 1996 Protocol offsite link (03/24/06). 
• The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)  offsite linkand its six Annexes:
  • Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil offsite link (10/02/83);
  • Regulations for the Control of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk offsite link (04/06/87);
  • Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Harmful Substances Carried by Sea in Packaged Form offsite link (07/01/92); 
  • Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships offsite link (09/27/03);
  • Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships offsite link (12/31/88); and
  • Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships offsite link (10/10/08).
• International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships offsite link (09/27/08).
• International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments offsite link (09/08/17).
• Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution offsite link (03/16/83).
• The Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea offsite link (07/15/97).
• International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation offsite link (05/13/95).
• International Convention Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties offsite link (05/06/75).
• United Nations Environment Programme, Global Programme of Action (N/A) offsite link

The United States is a party to each of these agreements except the 1996 Protocol to the London Dumping Convention, the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, and MARPOL Annex IV.

Additional reference information: 

• White House Press Release, Statement by the President on the Coast Guard Authorization Act which includes language to implement the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships.