3. Employing the sea to enhance national security. 
4. Pursuing scientific investigations for describing and understand- 
ing marine phenomena, processes and resources. 
Effective human use of the sea does not imply any inevitable abridg- 
ment or infringement of other nations’ rights or interests. In fact, the 
oceans are so huge and potential benefits so great that a cooperative, 
international effort to develop marine resources for the benefit of 
all humanity seems both logical and appealing. Institutional means 
for this development, however, are so rudimentary, and activities and 
interests of other nations are evolving so fast, that an urgent U.S. 
effort is required in the interim to preclude possible abridgment of 
our interests by others. 
The implication is that “freedom of the seas” cannot be conceived 
as being static, especially since increasing intensity and sophistication 
of ocean exploitation require legal arrangements beyond the simple, 
traditional understanding of this concept. We do not wish to imply 
that more suitable versions of “freedom of the seas” must reflect nar- 
row conceptions of owr national interest. The problem is to adapt the 
principle of freedom to the general interest, rather than to any exclu- 
sive interest of our own. A realistic conception of freedom of the seas 
is likely to remain vital to protection of U.S. marine interests. 
1.2. PANEL OBJECTIVES AND ORGANIZATION 
The Panel adopted four main objectives: 
1. To assess current and planned ocean programs for technical 
soundness, adequacy of scope, balance of content, adequacy of orga- 
nization, and funding and management in light of relevant national 
goals. 
2. To identify major opportunities for new programs in technology 
and science that should be given high priority in the next 5 to 10 years. 
3. To draft a statement of goals designed to serve the marine inter- 
ests of the United States and to define the Federal role in their pursuit. 
4. To recommend measures to effect an ocean science and technology 
program consonant with national needs and interests. 
Panel membership and a description of its activities are provided in 
appendix I. The Panel purposely reflects a diversity of backgrounds, 
experience and professional affiliations. The science of oceanography 
and related environmental sciences (meteorology and geophysics) are 
represented, as are biology, applied mathematics, physics, economics, 
and engineering. In terms of institutions, the university community, 
the nonprofit defense and environmental research community, and the 
profit-oriented industrial community are represented. It should be 
emphasized that Panel members participated as individuals and not as 
spokesmen for their fields or organizations. 
