MARINE SCIENCE 103 



H. INTERNATIONAL COOPEUATION 



It is clear that, as in other sciences, a very lar^e part of the pioneering re- 

 search and new ideas concerning? tlie oceans must come from individual scientists 

 or small groups working independently. But international cooperation in work 

 at sea is essential in several kinds of marine research and should also greatly 

 facilitate surveys of the ocean floor and of the waters. 



There is at present a high level of international cooperation among physical 

 and chemical oceanographers of different countries resulting from the Inter- 

 national Geophysical Year. This cooperation should be maintained and broad- 

 ened throughout all aspects of the marine sciences, particularly including biology. 

 To this end, the Committee recommends : 



(1) The United States through the National Science Foundation shoidd give 

 its proportionate share (amounting to perhaps $20,000 per year) of financial 

 and other support to the Special Committee on Oceanic Research of the Inter- 

 national Council of Scientific Unions. The Committee on Oceanography has 

 been designated as the U.S. national committee for this long-range cooperative 

 program. 



(2) Grants should be sought also from foundations and governmental sources 

 to support special projects such as the proposed yearlong international expedi- 

 tion to the Indian Ocean by covering the increased expenses to U.S. oceano- 

 graphic institutions and by making the participation of other countries possible. 

 Special funds needed for the Indian Ocean project are estimated at about $2 

 million. 



(3) An intergovernmental conference of the maritime countries should be 

 called, after suitable preparation, to discuss means by which the governments 

 can cooperate in increasing man's knowledge of the oceans. Specifically, agree- 

 ments should be sought regarding the means of carrying out oceanwide surveys, 

 including allocation of responsibility to different countries, intercalibration of 

 techniques, and free exchange of data. It would be expected that the U.S. pro- 

 portion of this international responsibility for surveys would be about the same 

 as its proportion of financial responsibility for support of United Nations agen- 

 cies. This conference should be a first step toward the establishment of a 

 World Oceanographic Organization; a United Nations specialized agency cor- 

 responding to the World Meteorological Organization. 



(4) In the study and conservation of the living resources of the sea, regional 

 international organizations, such as the various international fisheries commis- 

 sions, have proven effective. 



In developing formal intergovernmental cooperation in the marine sciences, 

 the Federal Government should give special emphasis to the establishment and 

 adequate support of such regional organizations, and should seek to broaden 

 their charter to allow an integrated research program on all aspects of a par- 

 ticular oceanic region. 



(5) In order to increase the effectiveness of cooperation between U.S. marine 

 scientists and laboratories and marine scientists in other countries, the U.S. 

 State Department should be prepared to assist positively, sympathetically, and 

 promptly in facilitating research ship operations and the exchange of infor- 

 mation, persons, equipment, and supplies. 



(6) The need for increased protein foods from the sea is especially ui-gent 

 in underdeveloped countries. The International Cooperation Administration 

 in its progi-ams of technical assistance should give greater emphasis to marine 

 resources surveys and to research projects and training programs in the marine 

 sciences. The Federal Government also should encourage United Nations 

 specialized agencies such as UNESCO and FAO in their efforts to aid under- 

 developed countries to achieve greater utilization of marine resources. The 

 funds needed for both these purposes have not been budgeted separately in this. 

 report but are included in the budget for ocean resources studies. 



I. BUDGET AND OPEEATIONS 



The total recommended budget for the period 1960-70 broken down by cate- 

 gory and agency is given in tables 17 and 18. It should be emphasized that 

 although the budget includes the capital costs of ships involved in strictly mili- 

 tary research and development, it does not include the other costs which are 

 involved in such work. 



