Piracy, international disputes over undersea oil and gas, and chronic overfishing have left our oceans in turmoil. How can we resolve these issues?

International law states that a coastal country has territorial rights for 12 miles into the sea, yet, in practice many countries have virtually no control over their own waters. Denise Russell provides a thorough examination of the politics of the sea, from environmental issues, to water economics and governance of the waters. She reveals how we need to radically rethink ocean governance, calling for the establishment of an international agency powerful enough to settle disputes at sea, or else risk ever-accelerating climate change and the continued overuse of the sea's resources.