lOC/B - 50 (1) - page ^k 



Tlie United Klngdcm is pleased to learn of the agreement between the Direc- 

 tors-General of Unesco and FAO whereby a niember of the FAO is to be based in 

 Unesco. It considers that this officer has a vital role to play in seeing that 

 the correct balance between fisheries research and oceanography is achieved in 

 all nations with a fishing industry so that the stocks can be developed and man- 

 aged to the maximal benefit to mankind. 



(b) The United Kingdom approves in principle the Integrated Global Ocean 

 Station System (IGOSS), the development of which was started by the resolutions 

 pasoed at the fifth session. It has, however, certain reservations. It considers 

 that the development of this system by IOC irust in no way impede the work of the 

 World Meteorological Organization {Vim) and its progress towards the World Weather 

 Watch. It should therefore not aim to replace the system by which certain ocean- 

 ographlc data are collected and disseminated by the I'JWW system, at least until 

 such time as a parallel system for other oceanographic data has been established. 

 The United Kingdom also feels that the requirements of oceanographers with regard 

 to a fixed network of moored stations cannot be formulated precisely at this time, 

 especially as the physical variability of the ocean in space and time In any par- 

 ticular area is so poorly londerstood. Many more studies of variability are re- 

 quired . 



The United Kingdom therefore wishes to see the IOC "hasten slowly" with re- 

 gard to the IGOSS project. It welcomes the decision of WMO to appoint a liaison 

 officer to IOC and hopes that this arrangement will help each body to assist the 

 programmes of the other and not impede them. It also considers that the Secreta- 

 riat should contain an officer working full-time on the IGOSS project. 



(c) The United Kingdom is of the view that there is a need for better inter- 

 national co-operation in sea- flo or chartin g. In tha United Kingdom view it is 

 the responsibility of the International Hydrographic Bureau (IHB) to see that 

 this co-operation is improved. Hi^drogrcphic surveyors and physical and geological 

 oceanographers have many interests in common. The United Kingdom considers that 

 IOC and IHB should have discussions at an early date to see how to improve the 

 liaison between them: they might consider whether it would be worth while to 



IHB to appoint a liaison officer to IOC in the same way as WMO- 



(d) The IOC has concerned itself with the problem of marin e pollution , as 

 have nearly all the United Nations (UN) agencies. The United Kingdom was glad to 

 hear at the fifth session of IOC that it was now likely that these agencies would 

 soon have a single working group of experts on pollution on which to call for 

 advice. It considers that IOC should concern itself with encouraging the develop- 

 ment of the oceanographic research necessary to deal with pollution problems of 

 all kinds. At the present time it should not aim at becoming a regulatory body 

 with regard to pollutants. The international aspects of the disposal of radio- 

 active waste into the sea is the concern of tha International Atomic Energy 

 Authority (IAEA) and the European Nuclear Energy Agency (ENEA) and the control of 

 oil pollution is the concern of the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Or- 

 ganization (IMCO). It has yet to be established that control of other pollutants 

 in a similar way is required. 



SECTIC»} B: ADMINISTRATION AND ORGANIZATION OF TKE IOC 



8. In formulating the scope of the IOC's new responsibilities, it is important 

 to ensure that its programme of work is responsive to needs with regard to the 



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