lOC/B - 50 (1) - page 12 



6. Activities falling wholly or primarily to the IOC 



(a) Promotion of co-op Grat ive oce ano graphlc surveys has been one of the main 

 functions of the IOC. Tne United Kingdom has participaced in one of these (the 

 International Indian Ocean Survey) and hopes to play a minor role in the forth- 

 coming surveys of the Mediterranean and tha Caribbean Seas. The capacity of the 

 United Kingdom to participate beyond this in the next few years is however 

 strictly limited and will have to be considered in the light of the needs of Its 

 domestic programme which is concentrated in the North Atlantic. We believe that 

 most other countries will find themselves in a similar position. 



We therefore believe that the planning of co-operative surveys, which 

 Inevitably make heavy demands on natural resources, must be undertaken critically 

 and with due regard to the logistic implications. The United Kingdom considers 

 that the IOC has in the past tended to promote co-operative surveys with insuf- 

 ficient attention to the sclontlflc problems to be solved and the means of at- 

 tacking them. It Is noted that in the second draft of the G uide for Co-operative 

 Investigations more emphasis is given to these questions than in the first draft. 

 This is welcomed, and the United Kingdom hopes that futui^ proposals for co- 

 operative work coming before the IOC will be shown to originate from a sound sci- 

 entific base and to identify specific and significant problems in need of solur 

 tlon. We hope also that proper consideration will be given to the scale of re- 

 sovirces needed to implement such siarveys and to the steps to be taken to ensure 

 that the results are worked up and disseminated promptly and effectively. 



It is further noted in this connexion that in two of the most recent surveys, 

 naujely those of the Tropical Atlantic and the Kviroshio, the necessary co- 

 ordination has been carried out successfully by the participating nations then»- 

 ssives with the minimum of Secretariat assistance. In the Interests both of 

 economizing on tlie workload of the Secretariat and in promoting responsible par- 

 ticipation by the nations concerned, we believe that this pattern should be the 

 aim for all future co-operative surveys. Similarly, with regard to the Co- 

 ordination Groups set up by IOC for the Southern Ocean and the North Atlantic, 

 the United Kingdom hopes that these can function mainly through correspondence 

 between ni«»J3bers; and that any meetings that are required should be held in con- 

 junction with the regular IOC sessions. 



(b) One of the main problems identified in the Joint ACMRR/SCORA/MO Report 



Is concerned with data, documentation and the exch an ge of information . The United 

 Kingdom supports the proposal that an officer could usefully be employed full- 

 time in the Secretariat over a two-year assignment in the analysis of these pro- 

 blems and in drawing up proposals for an international oceanographlc data and in- 

 formation service. We would wish to see such a service complement and co- 

 ordinate, rather than duplicate, existing or planned data seirvices at the national 

 level. 



(c) Stan dardization an d intercalibra ti on of instruments and methods is 

 another important task appropriate to IOC. There seems to be an increasing need 

 for national oceanographlc laboratories to assume international responsibilities 

 for (a) keeping international standards (b) work on the development of certain 

 methods. The Secrctariab shoiild contain an officer who takes up this question 

 as part of his duties, and IOC should consider how to provide financial support 

 for national laboratories which undertake these international responsibilities. 

 The United Kingdom is aware that the United Nations Educational, Scientific 



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