Since they are not specifically covered by one single set of regulations, they have been integrated piece by piece into existing legislation when deemed necessary. This piecemeal approach to integrating emerging ocean industries into existing traditional legal instmments is set to continue. The following section selects three domains of ocean-related regulation - environment and biodiversity, pollution prevention, and maritime safety - and explores them with a view to gaining a sense of what is in the “pipeline” in terms of international and regional regulations that will affect ocean industries, both established and emerging, in the coming years. The study’s target was the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity. But its findings warrant reproducing here, because many of the gaps and weaknesses identified in the regime also have repercussions on the operation and economic viability of most, if not all, ocean-based industries and activities, from fisheries and deep-sea mining to subsea cable laying and marine bio-prospecting.