H-62 



INTERNATIONAL CO-ORDINATION AND CO-OPERATION 



3. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. 



(a) While the IOC is constitutionally attached to UNESCO, it serves, with respect to 

 marine research, as a 'joint specialized mechanism' of other interested UN bodies, specifically, 

 FAO, WMO and IMCO, as well as the UN itself (ICSPRO organizations). 



(b) IOC has a subsidiary body, an International Co-ordination Group for the Southern 

 Ocean (ICG/SOC), established in 1970. It is composed of IOC member states interested in 

 Antarctic research, with observers from SCOR, SCAR, ACMRR (FAO) and other interested 

 organizations. The group is concerned with all aspects of Southern Ocean scientific studies and 

 will need to maintain close co-ordination between BIOMASS and other SOC activities. 

 ICG/SOC has the present terms of reference: 



(i) To assemble and distribute details of firm oceanographic cruise plans in the 



Southern Ocean, preferably at least one year in advance, 

 (ii) To encourage the pre-allocation of blocks of time for oceanographic research 



on Antarctic supply vessels whenever practicable, 

 (iii) To develop means of co-ordinating existing and planned oceanographic 



research programmes in the region, 

 (iv) To encourage the evaluation of existing oceanographic data from the region 



with the intention of fostering specific studies of Umited extent and capable 



of being carried out in the foreseeable future, 

 (v) To encourage and review the development of relevant theory, methods and 



instruments with particular reference to the problems of obtaining 



measurements in the winter and in the presence of ice. 

 (vi) To develop plans for the gradual evolution of a comprehensive study of the 



Southern Ocean. 



(c) Having considered the recommendations of the second session of ICG/SOC 

 (Buenos Aires, 15-19 July 1974) the IOC Executive Council invited the SCAR Group of 

 Specialists on Living Resources of the Southern Ocean to prepare practical proposals for 

 collaborative investigations on the biological oceanography of the area and for the organization 

 of multi-ship studies. 



(d) Global Investigation of Pollution in the Marine Environment (GIPME): the 

 intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission has published 'A comprehensive plan for the 

 global investigations of pollution in the marine environment and basehne study guidelines' 

 (IOC Technical Series No 14). Any activities in the Southern Ocean promoted under this 

 programme by the IOC Working Committee for GIPME should be co-ordinated with BIOMASS. 



4. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO). 



The FAO has direct interest in the resources of the Southern Ocean and is already active in 

 several spheres. Its main interests are in the better utilization and management of these 

 resources rather than in scientific research in the narrow sense. However, a number of FAO 

 activities are directly relevant to the BIOMASS project. 



(a) The ACMRR of FAO (a body of scientists which, like SCOR, is also advisory 

 to IOC) is presently active in evaluating the status of Antarctic resources of seals and 

 cetaceans. The study is financed by UNEP, bUateral funds, and by FAO itself, and culminated 

 in the World Scientific Conference on Marine Mammals held in Bergen in September 1976. An 

 important feature of that conference was the formulation of a long term research programme 

 on marine mammals. There will need to be close co-ordination between the proposed research 

 programme concerning Antarctic stocks of seals and cetaceans and BIOMASS. 



(b) FAO in 1974 convened an 'Informal consultation on Antarctic krill' (published 

 as FAO/Fisheries Report, No 153). At this consultation the FAO Department of Fisheries 

 agreed to: 



