Marine Science Affairs 



The Decade should contribute to the economic and scientific development 

 of all participants. Data about distribution and richness of resources, par- 

 ticularly new sources of food critically needed in the developing areas of the 

 world, should accelerate their development. Thus, emphasis should be placed 

 on identification and assessment of food and mineral resources as well as on 

 investigation of natural ocean processes. 



Existing patterns of effective scientific cooperation provide experience on 

 which to develop expanded and more systematic efforts of the future. The 

 success of such an endeavor will depend in large measure on the extent to 

 which various nations contribute their particular expertise and capabilities, 

 assume a share of responsibility for the program, develop their manpower 

 and facilities, and disseminate to others the results of scientific and other 

 discoveries. 



Effective exploration of the oceans can best be achieved through both 

 research and surveys, balanced to solve specific scientific problems and to 

 systematically collect data on a broad regional or world ocean basis. The 

 Decade does not by any means suggest exploration of every square mile of 

 the world's ocean, nor investigation of every conceivable ocean phenomenon. 

 However, during the Decade the nations of the world can identify the most 

 promising geographical areas and lines of scientific inquiry, set priorities, 

 and agree on distribution of effort. 



The Decade is not merely a continuation of past efforts but has several 

 unique aspects. The proposal : 



— anticipates a sustained, long-term exploration of the sea, planned and 

 coordinated on a global basis, in contrast to the sporadic efforts of 

 the past, developed project by project; 

 — is oriented as much toward delineation of marine resources as toward 

 science, and is thus broader than past scientifically oriented oceano- 

 graphic research programs ; 

 — envisages more deliberate coordination of the many interested inter- 

 national organizations, such as the Intergovernmental Oceanographic 

 Commission, Food and Agriculture Organization, and World Mete- 

 orological Organization so that planning and coordination of world- 

 wide exploration will not be unnecessarily splintered among compet- 

 ing agencies; and 

 — foresees an intensified effort toward more systematic collection of 

 data and prompt dissemination, with particular attention to adop- 

 tion of internationally agreed-upon standards to maximize the value 

 of the data as a commodity for exchange. As more sophisticated data 

 processing equipment comes into use, particular attention should also 

 be given to the compatibility of national data collection and process- 

 ing techniques and to common procedures for calibrating oceano- 

 graphic instruments. 



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