1998 Year of the Ocean A Survey of International Agreements 



Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. Scientific Observer status has been granted 

 to Australia, South Africa and Greece. Lithuania applied in 1997 for membership. 



More than 40 international organizations have Observer status and cooperative relations 

 with ICES. Of the United Nations agencies, ICES works with the Fisheries Department of the 

 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, 

 the International Maritime Organization, the World Meteorological Organization, and the UNEP. 



Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, 1960 



The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) promotes marine scientific 

 investigations to learn more about the nature and resources of the oceans and provides related 

 ocean services and training. The IOC plans, coordinates, and supports global and regional 

 programs, in cooperation with IOC member states and other international organizations. The IOC 

 is designated in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as the competent international 

 organization for marine scientific research. It also has specific responsibilities under the 

 Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biodiversity, Agenda 21 of the 

 UN Conference on Environment and Development, and the International Decade for Natural 

 Disaster Reduction. 



Through memoranda of understanding, the IOC cooperates with ICES in the North 

 Atlantic, and with the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) in the North Pacific 

 region. UN agencies that work closely with the IOC on programs of mutual interest include the 

 World Meteorological Organization, the UNEP, the International Maritime Organization, the 

 FAO, and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Scientific advice is provided to the IOC by 

 the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research of the International Council of Scientific Unions. 

 Major programs include study of global ocean circulation, ocean mapping, and global ecosystem 

 dynamics. Under each of these program areas and in cooperation with national and international 

 agencies, the IOC sponsors and organizes meetings and workshops to define scientific problems 

 and service requirements, and to develop appropriate international programs. The programs are 

 executed by the participating IOC member states. 



The Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping 

 of Wastes and Other Matter, London, 1972 



The Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other 

 Matter, known as the London Convention of 1972, is the primary international agreement 

 controlling the deliberate dumping of non-ship generated wastes at sea. Since entering into force 

 in 1975, the London Convention has provided a structure by which its now 77 contracting parties 

 have made consistent progress in combating marine pollution caused by dumping at sea. The 

 London Convention has become more restrictive over the years. In 1993, bans on the ocean 

 disposal of low-level radioactive wastes and industrial wastes were adopted. 



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