1381 (XLV). Long-rani;c prograininc for the exploration 

 I of (lie sen 



The Economic and Social Council, 



Rccof^nizins; tliat the ocean holds promise of becoming 

 a more important source of food and minerals for a 

 rapidly developing world, and that man's knowledge of 

 the ocean and its resources is exceedingly limited, 



Havini^ considered the report entitled " Resources of 

 the sea beyond the continental shelf"'" prepared by the 

 Secretary-General under Council resolution 1112 (XL) 

 and the report entitled " Marine Science and Techno- 

 logy "*" prepared by him under General Assembly resolu- 

 tion 2172 (XXI) of 6 December 1966, 



Takiiif; into account the activities in the fields of research, 

 exploration and description of the oceans at present being 

 undertaken by the United Nations, the United Nations 

 Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and its 

 Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the Food 

 and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and • 

 its Committee on Fisheries, the World Meteorological 

 Organization and its Panel on Meteorological Aspects of 

 Ocean Affairs, other specialized agencies and inter- 

 governmental organizations concerned, various govern- 

 ments, universities, scientific and technological institu- 

 tions, and other non-governmental organizations, 



Hcing aware of the complexity and variability of the 

 marine environment and that scientific investigations of 

 vast scope will be necessary if knowledge of this environ- 

 ment is to increase substantially within a reasonably short 

 period. 



Convinced that the nations of the world should join 

 together, with due respect for existing national jurisdic- 

 tions, in a common long-term programme of exploration • 

 of theoccanasa potential source of resources, which could 

 eventually be used for meeting the needs of all mankind, 

 with due recognition of those developing countries, ■ 



Noting the endorsement by the Bureau apd Consulta- 

 tive Council of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic 

 Commission at its eighth meeting, held in London from 

 10 to 13 June 1968, of the concept of an expanded, 

 accelerated, long-term and sustained programme of ' 

 exploration of the oceans and their resources, including 

 international programmes, planned and co-ordinated on a 

 world-wide basis, expanded international exchange of data 

 from national programmes, and international efiforts to 

 strengthen the research capabilities of all interested nations, 



1. Takes note with appreciation of the Secretary- 

 General's report entitled " Marine Science and Tech- 

 nology ", and of annex V, relating to marine science and 

 its application, to the thirty-fourth report of the Adminis- 

 trative Committee on Co-ordination;*' 



2. Takes note further of the steps which are being 

 taken under the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Com- 

 mission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and 

 Cultural Organization to give consideration to the future 



administrative and financial structure of the Commission, 

 as well as to the content of an expanded programme of 

 exploration of the oceans and their resources; 



3. Transmits the Secretary-General's report entitled 

 " Marine Science and Technology " to the General 

 Assembly for further consideration at its twenty-third 

 session; 



4. Invites the General Assembly to endorse the concept 

 of a co-ordinated long-term programme of oceanographic 

 research designed to increase, in the interests of world 

 economic development, the resources available to all 

 people of the world, taking also into account such initia- 

 tives as the proposal for an international decade of Ocean 

 Exploration and several international programmes already 

 considered, approved and adopted by the International 

 Oceanographic Commission for implementation, in certain 

 cases in co-operation with other specialized agencies. 



J 56 hi plenary meeting, 

 2 Auzust 196S, 



>• F,/444<) nml Add.l nmi 2. 

 " I ;■^^S7 una Corr.l «na 2. 



•' (»//ir/ii/ Kff^inl.r of ihf lUumiiiiilf iiilil Stirliil Coiiiirll, t'ofiy- 

 tl/lh Smian, Antuxt$, agenda Horn 2], Uocunwnl ti/44Hh/AUiJ.I, 



- 46 



