CONCLUSION 



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Not only is the ocean an important factor in determining the planet's 

 climate and environment, but its resources are, in the words of President 

 Nixon, "a common heritage of mankind, and their benefits should be 

 shared by all." That resources exist in some areas is certain, but is doubt- 

 ful in others. However, scientific study is required for such determinations. 

 Examples of the benefits to be reaped from exploration and scientific inves- 

 tigation are the discovery of oil and gas in the floor of the North Sea, and 

 the development of numerical models for predicting the location of ocean 

 surface temperatures favorable to the occurence of the albacore tuna. 



These and many other discoveries and achievements during the past 

 few decades were in large part made possible by the great advancements 

 in science and technology that took place during that time. These advance- 

 ments are opening new avenues for the study of the world ocean, and 

 hold promise for producing truly significant advances in our understand- 

 ing of the ocean and its dominant role in controlling man's environment. 



Unfortunately, technological progress has also brought mankind to 

 the point where the products and refuse from his activities are becoming 

 a danger to the ocean and to the rest of the environment. The recent 

 discovery, by an International Decade of Ocean Exploration research 

 team, that marine organisms collected throughout the North Atlantic 

 Ocean contain significant amounts of the pollutants DDT and polychlori- 

 nated biphenyl (PCB) — whose only source is man's technology — gives 

 evidence of this problem. 



Taking advantage of the beneficial aspects of improved technology, 

 the United States' contribution to the International Decade of Ocean 

 Exploration program focuses considerable scientific talent and effort upon 

 the world ocean to describe its present state and to predict its future, 

 in terms of problems and potential. It is an exciting program because it 

 addresses, in a comprehensive way, major scientific questions confronting 

 man in his relationship with the ocean, and because marine scientists are 

 organizing on a large scale to study these questions without hindrance 

 from disciplinary, institutional, and national barriers. Although the pro- 

 gram is still very much in the formative stage, important projects are 

 already under way, and the progress clearly reflects a new enthusiasm 

 that this revolutionary approach is engendering. It is earnestly hoped 

 that this enthusiasm is communicable, and that scientists and engineers 

 in many nations will become involved. All the nations of the world will 

 be the beneficiaries of this great cooperative concept since the results 

 will be available to all. 



The International Decade of Ocean Exploration is dedicated to gain- 

 ing sufficient knowledge about the ocean to provide: scientific capability 



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