22 EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COMMITTEE ON OCEANOGRAPHY 



has a vast but essentially still unknown effect upon the currents and organisms 

 in the waters. 



Another notable feature is the apparent productivity of this ocean. In June 

 1957, a Russian ship not far from the main trade route between Colombo and the 

 Gulf of Aden reported millions of tons of dead fish floating in an area some 1,000 

 kilometers long and 200 kilometers wide extending across the middle of the 

 ocean. Similar reports came simultaneously from British ships in the region. 

 During the same year smaller fish kills were reported in nearby parts of the 

 Arabian Sea. It is not known how the fish were killed, but the very size of this 

 catastrophe gives some idea of the potential midocean resources which are 

 currently untapped. There is further fragmentary evidence of unusually high 

 productivity. 



The Indian Ocean is one of our last unexplored frontiers. Since 1873, fewer 

 than two dozen vessels have carried out oceanographic investigations there. 

 Modern techniques have been used only in quite limited areas. Limited coverage 

 has left great gaps both in areas visited and in the nature, intensity, and accuracy 

 of observations. No systematic study has been attempted nor do the combined 

 profiles of the observations reported give more than a preliminary picture of the 

 ocean's behavior and characteristics. 



Socioeconomic characteristics. — Many of the nations lying in the tropical and 

 subtropical regions which surround the Indian Ocean are among the world's 

 most densely populated countries, with continuing rapid growth. Over a quarter 

 of the world's people live in these countries. 



Population pressures on the existing food supplies result in prevalence of dis- 

 eases attributed to protein starvation. Such protein deficiencies are common in 

 India, Ceylon, Indonesia, Malaya and in parts of the east coast of Africa. Some 

 of the nations bordering the Indian Ocean have a seafaring tradition and conduct 

 extensive fisheries. To feed their crowded populations, they are interested in 

 expanding these fisheries. 



EXPEDITION DESIGN 



Participation. — Under the nongovernmental sponsorship of the International 

 Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) and its Special Committee on Oceanic 

 Research (SCOR) scientists in the various nations experienced in oceanographic 

 research will staff vessels provided by marine laboratories of these several nations. 

 Scientists from countries unable to provide vessels will be invited to work on the 

 expedition's ships. Ever3 r effort will be made to obtain active participation by 

 each nation bordering the Indian Ocean. The degree and nature of participation 

 will depend to some extent on the ability of each country to provide funds, 

 facilities, and personnel, and in part on general interest in advancement of the 

 science of oceanography. 



Up to June 1, 1960, the following nations had formed national committees of 

 SCOR and had announced plans to send both ships and scientific parties on the 

 expedition: Australia, Ceylon, France, Germany (Federal Republic), India, Indo- 

 nesia, Japan, Pakistan, Union of South Africa, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, 

 United Kingdom, United States of America. National committees of these addi- 

 tional countries plan to contribute scientific parties: China (Taiwan), Denmark, 

 Israel, the Netherlands. Portugal and other countries now forming national 

 committees may also announce plans to participate. 



Timing of the expedition. — The period of peak activity will occur in 1962 and 

 1963. Preliminary plans will be completed by August 1960 and the first cruises 

 in the coordinated effort will occur in late I960. The expedition will continue 

 into 1964 and data analysis will undoubtedly continue past that date. An atlas 

 incorporating the full findings is contemplated. 



Because of the present scarcity of information on the Indian Ocean, there will 

 need to be continuous revision and reexamination of the plans as new data are 

 acquired. Every effort will be made to complete preliminary processing and 

 analysis of data within 6 to 8 months in order to redirect subsequent cruises. 

 This fact, together with the importance of obtaining a series of observations of 

 the same area in different seasons, makes a program spread over several years 

 more desirable than a major simultaneous effort. 



Procedure. — A preliminary and tentative cruise pattern for the entire Indian 

 Ocean has been agreed upon by members of SCOR and national committees. 

 In regions where seasonal differences due to monsoons are significant, ships will 

 cruise twice along the same track. To complete the pattern will require about 

 10 ship-years of operation over a total of 180,000 miles. 



Uniform standards for observation techniques and instrumentation will be 

 established. Exchanges of scientists between ships of participating nations will 



