Marine Science Affairs 



Executive Committee of the World Meteorological Organization and 



its Commission for Maritime Meteorology 

 Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization 

 In addition bilateral discussions were held with many coastal States con- 

 cerning the proposal and the response was universally favorable. The Coun- 

 cil's Executive Secretary traveled to Moscow, London, Bonn, and Oslo to 

 elaborate on the proposal, and also discussed details in Washington with 

 officials from a number of other countries. 



Consultations to formulate specific national commitments will be a con- 

 tinuing and lengthy process. The positive interest of a substantial number 

 of governments was indicated by the cosponsorship by 28 nations of the 

 U.N. Resolution endorsing the Decade. Many are well aware of the need 

 for careful preparatory planning, including the identification of specific 

 areas for investigation, but would like to avoid a proliferation of new inter- 

 national bodies for implementation of the Decade. Also there is a recognition 

 of the need to continue and expand bilateral and regional arrangements, 

 where appropriate, within the overall context of the Decade. 



Three important steps are now required internationally to implement the 

 Decade concept: 



— development of a multinational organizational framework for plan- 

 ning and cooperation; 

 — identification of specific projects to be carried out; and 

 ■ — commitments by individual nations of their individual exploration 

 capabilities to cooperative endeavors. 



Developing National Programs 



During the Decade all nations would be encouraged to identify how the 

 oceans can contribute to their own scientific and economic development, 

 and accordingly: 



— develop their capabilities for exploring the oceans; 

 — expand national ocean exploration programs; and 

 — share with other nations experience and scientific data acquired from 

 these national programs. 

 At the present time most nations are primarily interested in ocean explora- 

 tion programs close to home shores— exploration of the Continental Shelf 

 and of coastal fishery stocks — and these programs receive the bulk of national 

 financial support. Even though nations are moving farther out to sea every 

 year, in the near future much of the world's ocean exploration activity will 

 probably continue to be coastal, of interest primarily to individual nations. 

 However, sharing of experiences and data can benefit others. Of course, 



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