multilateral cooperative exploration endeavors, would provide an excellent 

 starting point for the Decade. 



To insure the maximum reward, international planning for the Decade 

 should be pursued as quickly as practicable. Planning would include the 

 development internationally of a broadened scientific and organizational 

 framework for the Decade, the identification of specific projects to be car- 

 ried out internationally, and further development of data exchange arrange- 

 ments. 



In preparing the concept of a Decade, the United States has not attempted 

 to prejudge the scope, the international collaborative projects which would 

 develop, nor the international arrangements for planning and coordination. 

 Detailed aspects should be worked out on the basis of consultations with all 

 interested nations and international organizations. The United States there- 

 fore has initiated discussions with nations throughout the world on the 

 concept of the Decade. The concept will continue to be discussed in the 

 months ahead at appropriate international meetings to insure that all views 

 can be carefully considered by the international community. 



Many national programs of ocean exploration are of direct interest to 

 the international community. The inclusion of these programs within an 

 international framework simply by contributions of data would comprise a 

 significant component of the International Decade of Ocean Exploration. 

 The greatest benefits, however, are derived from the pooling of resources 

 and the sharing of responsibilities through international programs, and par- 

 ticipation by all interested nations in planning and implementing specific 

 collaborative projects is desirable. 



The continental margins will undoubtedly provide the greatest economic 

 return during the Decade. However, the deep oceans cover by far the largest 

 and least known areas. It is in the deep oceans that international coopera- 

 tion will provide a common scientific return leading to future economic 

 reward. Because of the high cost of operations at sea, it is of great importance 

 that plans be coordinated internationally to insure that areas with the 

 highest potential interest to the most users be given priority attention. Rather 

 than take all the oceans of the world under consideration for exploration 

 within a 10-year period, a rational delineation of those areas of highest 

 interest must be made. 



Program Development in the United States 



As early as 1959 the National Academy of Sciences' Committee on 

 Oceanography called for oceanwide surveys: "Not only for research, but in 

 order to exploit and use the oceans, we need detailed knowledge which can 

 be obtained only through systematic surveys in three dimensions. ... It is 

 essential that these surveys be conducted on an oceanwide, ocean-deep basis 

 as quickly as possible. Our knowledge is now limited largely to waters 100 

 miles from shore and even here is inadequate for present and future needs." 

 The recommendation was reinforced by the Committee's 1966 rcjwrt which 

 urged that "the program be carried out in a systematic and expeditious 

 manner." Since that time the necessity for intensified ocean exploration 

 programs has been widely recognized by a number of governmental and 

 nongovernmental organizations. 



