Marine Science Affairs 



Excellence, experience, and capabilities in marine science and tech- 

 nology are shared by many nations in addition to the United States, 

 and cooperation in a number of areas can be mutually beneficial. 

 In the search for new food resources, the full potential of the seas has 



not been fully realized. 

 While very little is known today of the richness and distribution of 

 seabed resources, these resources will eventually be sought to meet 

 a growing demand for energy and minerals. 

 Technology is rapidly becoming available to permit accelerated marine 



exploration and resource exploitation. 

 Development of ocean resources requires major capital investments 

 which in turn require some protection of rights for development 

 and exploitation. 

 Uncertainties in the interpretation and application of existing interna- 

 tional law may result in conflicts of interest between nations, par- 

 ticularly with regard to the width of territorial seas, rights of innocent 

 passage, and the exploitation of ocean resources. 

 Underlying any legal regime is the need to preserve the traditional 

 freedoms of the seas to permit their peaceful use by all nations. 

 Our international activities in the marine sciences are thus characterized 

 by: 



— encouragement of increased cooperation among ocean scientists of 



all nations and broadened dissemination of scientific results; 

 — support of the activities of the many bodies of the United Nations 

 system and other international organizations engaged in oceanic 

 activities and of eflforts to improve the international organizational 

 structure ; 

 — collaboration with other nations in developing and using new marine 



technologies within a framework of mutual benefit ; 

 — making available marine technology and other assistance to com- 

 plement the eflforts of developing countries in strengthening their 

 capabilities to use the ocean and its resources as a pathway to 

 economic progress, recognizing that aid burdens must be shared 

 by other nations and international organizations; 

 — strengthening of international programs and projects which foster 

 cooperation among neighboring nations to meet common interests 

 and problems; 

 — pursuit of a strengthened code of international law which will pre- 

 serve the traditional freedoms of the seas, insure that nations have 

 equitable opportunities to participate in the development of the 

 wealth of the ocean, and anticipate and prevent potential conflicts 

 arising out of expanding maritime interests; 



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