This book represents part of the final outcome of a three-year international research project, ‘Polar Oceans and the Law of the Sea’ (POLOS, 1996–8). The POLOS project, which was directed by the editor of this book, sought to analyse global and regional solutions in the law of the sea and ocean policy as these relate to the Arctic Ocean and the Southern Ocean.

In addition to the Fridtjof Nansen Institute – which initiated the POLOS project in 1995 and coordinated it until its finalisation in December 1998 – experts from four continents participated in this project. Here it should be stated that, for those officials who took part in the project, their participation and the views expressed are in their personal capacity only.

This book has been written by a group of nine contributors, all prominent experts in their respective fields, from scholarly institutions located in six countries: Australia, Canada, Croatia, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States.

In the course of the POLOS project, the research team met once each year for project workshops, where various drafts for the book's chapters were discussed. Along with acknowledging the contributions made by participants in the project, a special acknowledgement is also due to the institutions which provided venues for the workshops: in 1998, the Inter-University Centre in Dubrovnik, Croatia; in 1997, the Fridtjof Nansen Institute at Polhøgda near Oslo, Norway; and in 1996, the Antarctic Cooperative Research Centre at the University of Tasmania in Hobart, Australia.