OCEANOGRAPHY AND FISHERIES 71 



An example of the possible peaceful uses of atomic explosions is Project Chariot of the 

 U. S. Atomic Energy Commission. This is an experiment to determine the factors involved in 

 the use of nuclear explosives to excavate an area that could be used as a harbor. The project 

 site is at the mouth of the Ogotoruk Creek between Cape Thompson and Cape Seppings on 

 the northwest Alaska coast. An extensive survey program is being carried out by the Com- 

 mission with the cooperation of university research laboratories and U. S. Government agen- 

 cies, among other purposes to make a biological inventory of plant, animal, and bird life of 

 the sea, land, and fresh water in the site vicinity; to identify the food chains and other ecolog- 

 ical features of the regions; and to study human geography and habit. 



Progress has been made in studying the circulation and mixing of the sub-surface waters 

 of the ocean through measurements of the distribution of radium, carbon- 14, ionium and 

 thorium, and lead isotope ratios, and through direct current measurements. Much of this 

 work was done as part of the program of international scientific collaboration of the Interna- 

 tional Geophysical Year, and machinery has been established through the special Committee 

 on Oceanic Research of the International Council of Scientific Unions, to continue and expand 

 this collaboration. 



In the past, much thought has been given to the possible uses of tracer experiments using 

 large amounts of artificial radioactive materials to study the motions of the sub-surface waters. 

 Recent experiments with fluorescent dyes indicate that these materials, which are cheaper, 

 safer, and much more easily handled than radioactive isotopes, could be used very effectively 

 in such experiments. With present techniques, dye concentrations of two parts in a thousand 

 billion can be detected, corresponding to two kilograms of dye per cubic kilometer of water. 



At the Geneva Conference on the Law of the Sea in 1958. a Convention on the High 

 Seas was adopted. Among its provisions are: 



"1. Every State shall take measures to prevent pollution of the seas from 

 dumping of radioactive waste, taking into account any standards and 

 regulations which may be formulated by the competent international 

 organizations. 



"2. All States shall cooperate with the competent international organiza- 

 tions in taking measures for the prevention of pollution of the seas or air 

 space above, resulting from any activities with radioactive materials or 

 other harmful agents." 



The Conference also adopted a resolution to the effect that the International Atomic 

 Energy Agency should undertake to coordinate research on which could be based standards 

 and regulations for the prevention of pollution of the high seas by radioactive materials. 



In response to these, the International Atomic Energy Agency has established a con- 

 tinuing panel of experts on sea disposal of radioactive wastes. Recently, the Agency, in co- 

 operation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, spon- 

 sored an international conference at Monaco on disposal of radioactive wastes in the sea and 

 in geological structures. 



It was evident at this conference that many oceanographers and marine biologists of 

 European countries and the USSR, as well as members of the general public in those countries, 

 are strongly opposed to the introduction of any artificial radioactive materials into the oceans 

 or their bordering seas. On the other hand, many countries, such as Netherlands, Sweden, 

 Italy, and Japan, are planning atomic power installations on or near the sea coast and some 



