I. INTRODUCTION 



The National Oceanographic Program for 

 Fiscal Year 1967 represents the plans of nine 

 Federal departments and agencies, coordinated 

 through ICO panels on Research, Surveys, Ocean 

 Engineering, International Programs, Ships, In- 

 strumentation and Facilities, and Manpower and 

 Training. This program docimient is designed to 

 inform the executive branch, the Congress, and 

 the scientific and industrial communities of those 

 efforts and resources needed in FY 1967 to ad- 

 vance this nation's exploration and exploitation 

 of the ocean. 



A. Oceanography and the 

 National Interest 



In developing this program, the Interagency 

 Committee on Oceanography recognizes that a 

 truly national program must be responsive to 

 the national interest, which with respect to the 

 ocean sciences and technology, is a collective 

 expression of many regional. State, local, institu- 

 tional, industrial and individual intefests, each 

 concerned in some way with problems and oppor- 

 tunities in the marine environment. 



To what extent is oceanography actually related to 

 the natio7ial interest'? 



1. Basic Science 



Basic, fundamental knowledge of the ocean — 

 its boundaries, processes and contents — is needed 

 to solve many of the practical problems of concern 

 to the nation. Federal agencies specifically charged 

 with attacking these problems recognize that con- 

 tinued pursuit of basic research — with no specific 

 application in mind — is required to support their 

 long-range objectives. Much of the oceanographic 

 research sponsored by the Federal Government 

 in universities and institutions is of this nature. 

 Such research seeks answers to fundamental 

 scientific questions and, for the most part, is not 

 concerned with whether this knowledge is of 

 immediate practical interest. This work is justified 

 because: (1) a deeper understanding of fimda- 

 mental problems inevitably leads to new or refined 

 solutions to practical problems and can result 

 in new and unexpected practical benefits; (2) it 



contributes to our national cultural resources; 

 and (3) it supports the education of our yoimg 

 people. The marine environment is so imperfectly 

 understood that oceanographic research must 

 be further strengthened to close many broad 

 gaps in our understanding and to support ade- 

 quate scientific and technical leadership in the 

 ocean sciences and ocean engineering. 



2. National Defense 



The ocean, in all its dimensions — from surface 

 to sea floor — is a potential arena lOr international 

 conflict. In the past, naval operations were con- 

 ducted at or near its surface. In recent years, 

 however, technology has developed vehicles and 

 weapons for operations at greater depths; addi- 

 tional millions of cubic miles of ocean have be- 

 come available for military purposes. Submarines 

 armed with ballistic missiles can use the ocean's 

 cloak of concealment to strike any target on earth. 

 In the near future, naval warfare may be extended 

 to the seabed, as nations intensif)' their competi- 

 don for resources and strategic positions on the 

 ocean floor. These vast areas beyond the condnen- 

 tal shelves, are now, by international law, accessible 

 to any nation with the technology to establish 

 and maintain sovereignty over its seabed. It is 

 therefore urgent that the United States develop 

 a military capability to operate — offensively and 

 defensively — throughout the total marine envir- 

 onment. Oceanographic research, systematic 

 ocean surveys, and ocean engineering are needed 

 to broaden our knowledge of this complex en- 

 vironment, and so permit the development by 

 government and industry of systems needed to 

 accomplish present and future defense missions. 



3. Resource Management — World Ocean 



The resource potential of the ocean has long 

 been recognized by the maritime nations of the 

 world. Indeed, the present exploration and ex- 

 ploitation of the sea by the United States is, to a 

 large extent, motivated bv a realization that re- 

 sources from the sea may someday be essential 

 to support a growing population and expanding 



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