Legal protection of the Persian Gulfʹs marine environment

The purpose of the paper is to discuss the status of the legal protection of the Persian Gulfʹs marine environment, to elaborate the problems and consider possible solutions. The conclusion is that, as in many other regional marine areas, the problem is not the lack of necessary legal rules, but failure to comply with them. Political tension in the region is an extra reason for non-compliance. The strengthening of Kuwait Conventionʹs operative organ, ROPME, as well as participation of all coastal States in MARPOL 73/78 is urged.