AN INTERNATIONAL DECADE OF OCEAN 

 EXPLORATION 



The Proposal 



On March 8, 1968, the President proposed the launching of "an historic 

 and unprecedented adventure — an International Decade of Ocean Explora- 

 tion for the 1970's." 



The President subsequently stated that such activities could: 



— "expand cooperative efforts by scientists from many nations to probe 

 the mysteries of the sea ; 



— increase our knowledge of food resources, to assist in meeting world- 

 wide threats of malnutrition and disease ; 



— bring closer the day when the people of the world can exploit new 

 sources of minerals and fossil fuels." 



The President has invited and encouraged the efforts of other nations in 

 exploiting the promise of the sea, and he has asked the Secretary of State to 

 explore with other nations the joining together in long-term ocean explora- 

 tion. 



The Concept 

 General 



Contemporary research and survey activity leading to commercial-scale 

 development of ocean resources has convincingly demonstrated that the 

 ocean is an important source of food and minerals for a rapidly developing 

 world society. An unprecedented scientific and technological capability now 

 exists to explore the sea — to increase the harvest of these resources and to 

 contribute to the protection of life and property on land and at sea through 

 improved weather and ocean forecasting services. This new capability also 

 promises to contribute to the advancement of science itself. 



In recognition of the rapidly growing significance of ocean resources and 

 the increasing importance of an understanding of ocean processes, the Presi- 

 dent has proposed that the nations of the world join together in a concerted, 

 long-term cooperative program of ocean exploration on a worldwide basis. 

 As the initial focus for such a vast undertaking, he has proposed a 10-year 

 period of expanded collaborative efforts, designated as the International 

 Decade of Ocean Exploration. 



The Decade is envisioned as a period of intensified collaborative plan- 

 ning, development of national capabilities, and execution of national and 

 international programs of oceanic research and resource exploration. Knowl- 

 edge of the ocean and its resources is exceedingly limited. Because of the 

 very size, complexity, and variability of the marine environment, scientific 

 investigations of vast scope will be necessary if knowledge of this environ- 



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