Ninety per cent of global trade is conducted by shipping, which is considered to be the most environmentally friendly form of transport, taking into account its productive value. Shipping contributes to a limited extent to marine pollution from human activities, in particular when compared to pollution from land-based sources (or even dumping).1 Protection of the environment was not the International Maritime Organization’s (hereinafter the IMO) original mandate. Its main interest was maritime safety. However, in 1954 the IMO became the depository of the first 1954 Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Oil (hereinafter the OILPOL, see further below). Since then the protection of the marine environment has become one of the most important activities of the IMO. Among fiftyone treaty instruments the IMO has adopted so far, twenty-one are directly environment-related (twenty-three if we include the Salvage and Wreck Removal Conventions). The Marine Environment Protection Committee is the IMO’s technical body in charge of marine pollution related matters (it is aided in its work by a number of Sub-Committees).

Here’s an author biography of Malgosia Fitzmaurice, focusing on her life, career, and major work as an academic author in international law:

Malgosia A. Fitzmaurice (born 20 July 1955 in Łódź, Poland as Małgorzata Lachs) is a distinguished international lawyer, academic, and author specializing in public international law, particularly international environmental law, the law of treaties, marine environmental protection, and indigenous peoples’ rights.(Wikipedia)

Education and Early Career

• Fitzmaurice studied law at the University of Warsaw, where she earned her LL.B., LL.M., and Ph.D. degrees. She became a member of the Polish Bar before moving into academia.(Wikipedia)

Academic and Professional Career

• She is Professor of Public International Law at the Department of Law, Queen Mary University of London, where she has been teaching and researching since the 1990s.(idi-iil.org)

• Fitzmaurice also holds the position of The Nippon Foundation Professor of Marine Environmental Law at the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI), affiliated with the International Maritime Organization.(idi-iil.org)

• In 2019, she was elected an Associate Member of the Institut de Droit International, one of the most prestigious bodies in the field of international law.(idi-iil.org)

• In 2021, she was awarded an honorary doctorate (Doctor Honoris Causa) by the University of Neuchâtel in recognition of her contributions to international law scholarship.(PhilPapers)

• Fitzmaurice has delivered lectures internationally, including at The Hague Academy of International Law, and served as a Visiting Professor at institutions such as Berkeley Law School, University of Kobe, and Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris I).(idi-iil.org)

• She is Editor-in-Chief of the International Community Law Review journal and the Queen Mary Studies in International Law book series published by Brill/Nijhoff.(idi-iil.org)

As an Author

Fitzmaurice has published widely in international law, contributing both to academic books and scholarly articles. Her work often blends doctrinal analysis with pressing global legal issues. Key publications include:

• International Protection of the Environment and related volumes on environmental law and watercourse cooperation.(Wikipedia)

• Contemporary Issues in International Environmental Law (Edward Elgar, 2009).(idi-iil.org)

• Contemporary Issues in the Law of Treaties (with O. Elias).(idi-iil.org)

• Whaling and International Law (Cambridge University Press, 2015), a major monograph examining legal frameworks surrounding whaling practices under international law.(catalogue.nla.gov.au)

• Treaties in Motion: The Evolution of Treaties from Formation to Termination (with Panos Merkouris, 2020).(lawcat.berkeley.edu)

Her research spans foundational questions in treaty law, environmental governance, and the evolving role of law in addressing global maritime and indigenous challenges.(Academia.edu)

Impact and Recognition

Fitzmaurice is widely respected as a thought leader in international legal scholarship. Her work has influenced academic debate on the interplay between environmental protection and international legal norms, particularly in maritime contexts and treaty interpretation. Her career reflects both deep theoretical engagement and practical influence in shaping the global understanding of international law.(PhilPapers)

If you want, I can provide a list of her most influential publications or where to find her works online (e.g., links to books or academic articles).