Effective regulation of marine pollutants is now hampered by problems associated with the magnitude of man's activities. Increasing numbers and quantities of contaminants lead to increasing uncertainties about sources and inputs, more interaction between pollutants and between pollutants and organisms, and increasing difficulties in elucidating the dynamics of contaminants. The examples of global toxaphene contamination, coastal eutrophication, and continuing use of chlorinated hydrocarbons are used to illustrate an optimistic prognosis and a need for increased levels of funding for ocean studies, long-term studies of ecological processes of unperturbed systems, greater involvement of international agencies, and refinement of remote sensing techniques.