H-68 



7. PLANNING AND CO-ORDINATING GROUPS 



Preparatory and co-ordinating arrangements for the implementation of BIOMASS will be 

 needed at the scientific and administrative, non-governmental and governmental levels. The 

 group felt that such arrangements should largely be entrusted to the existing bodies of 

 SCAR/SCOR and of IOC, which should also be the principal sponsors of BIOMASS. 



The group proposed that a SCAR/SCOR scientific planning group be established which 

 would recommend methods and techniques and draw up scientific programmes for co-operative 

 field work and shore-based studies and for the analysis of data. Sub-groups could be established 

 for special technical tasks. The existing Group of Specialists on the Living Resources of the 

 Southern Ocean (SCOR WG 54) could, with perhaps enlarged membership and its new terms of 

 reference, undertake such a task. 



The group further proposed the formation of a BIOMASS co-ordinating group as a 

 sub-group of the existing IOC International Co-ordination Group for tlie Southern Ocean 

 (ICG/SOC), with responsibility for the implementation of the BIOMASS programme acting on 

 the scientific advice of the SCAR/SCOR scientific planning group. Consideration might be given 

 to the appointment of an international co-ordinator. SCAR. SCOR and lABO should be invited 

 to participate in the work of the BIOMASS co-ordinating group, and it is expected that FAO 

 and the International Whaling Commission will contribute to the efforts of this group. 



The proposals on the co-ordination of BIOMASS and on exchange of information and data 

 are summarized in the recommendations given in the following section. 



