Book excerpt: Combining laboratory experience with research and policy developments, this book provides an insight into the historical background of marine monitoring, its regulatory frameworks and science–policy interactions. With experience in the European Commission, the author draws from practical experience in research and policy implementation to present a concise review of marine monitoring on an international level. The author deals with monitoring and related QA/QC principles, focusing on monitoring types, while describing general features of analytical methods used in marine monitoring. The book concludes with a discussion about how to achieve metrology principles (measurement traceability) in marine monitoring.