xX. OVERVIEW 
More than two-thirds of the surface of the globe is covered by water. 
Most of the nations of the world border on the ocean. Control of 
pollution of the global ocean is a common international problem 
inextricably intertwined with the principles of international law. 
International marine law is not unequivocally formulated but is 
continually evolving. The activities and legislative concerns previously 
described have contributed greatly to the general principles accepted 
by the coastal states. These principles form the basis of the discussions 
and proposals now being prepared for the forthcoming Third Law of 
the Sea Conference. The outcome of these discussions may well deter- 
mine the controls and regulations for the future utilization of the 
oceans’ resources. It can be strongly argued that for the best interests 
of the United States and the world community to be served, a thorough 
policy study should be made of the utilization of the oceans resources. 
On December 19, 1973, Senate Resolution 222 was introduced by 
Senator Warren G. Magnuson and cosponsored by 61 other Senators 
and was adopted on February 19, 1974. The purpose of this resolution 
was to provide for an ocean policy study to (1) determine current and 
prospective national capabilities in the oceans consistent with long- 
range national goals, (2) determine the adequacy of current Federal 
ocean-related programs to meet national needs,’ (3) establish policies 
for the management and full utilization of all ocean resources, coastal 
zone management, and protection of the global ocean environment, 
and (4) assess proposals for national and international jurisdiction 
over the oceans. This study comes at a time when the need is pressing 
for national and international understanding of the effects of man’s 
activities on the marine environment. The international community 
is already aware of the necessity of taking positive action to control 
marine pollution, an awareness frequently tempered by economic, 
social, military, and other considerations. At the Stockholm Con- 
ference on the Human Environment, the ‘“‘common conviction” was 
stated that “States shall take all possible steps to prevent pollution 
of the seas by substances that are liable to create hazards to human 
health, to harm living resources and marine life, to damage amenities 
or to interfere with other legitimate uses of the sea,” and further, that 
“States shall ensure that international organization plays a co-ordinated 
efficient and dynamic role for the protection and improvement of the 
environment.” Both the Stockholm Conference and the IMCO 
Assembly have stressed the urgency of ending intentional pollution 
from vessels by the middle of the present decade. 
Any control programs to abate marine pollution by legislative action 
will require a considerable amount of scientific backing to justify the 
costs and to achieve the desired results. However, despite the best 
scientific research that can be carried out, there must be an effective 
mechanism for enforcement of any legislation that may be produced 
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