Chapter 1 Guides to United States Policy 



In its deliberations concerning the international 

 aspects of the uses of the oceans, the International 

 Panel was guided by the poUcies and objectives 

 enunciated by Congress in the Marine Resources 

 and Engineering Development Act of 1966' and 

 by the President in implementing the Act. 



I. POLICIES DECLARED BY CONGRESS 



The policies and objectives declared by Con- 

 gress in section 2 of the Act seek to safeguard the 

 national interest of the United States. The marine 

 science activities of the United States must be 

 conducted so as to contribute to the "preservation 

 of the role of the United States as a leader in 

 marine science and resource development" and to 

 the "encouragement of private investment enter- 

 prise in exploration, technological development, 

 marine commerce, and economic utilization of the 

 resources of the marine environment." The United 

 States must develop, encourage and maintain a 

 "coordinated, comprehensive, and long-range 

 national program in marine science" that will 

 "assist in . . . enhancement of . . . national secu- 

 rity" and in "the rehabilitation of our commercial 

 fisheries." 



But the Act also recognizes that the national 

 interest in marine science programs and activities is 

 intertwined with the interests of the peoples of the 

 whole world. It proclaims that the national pro- 

 gram, which it is United States policy to effec- 

 tuate, must be "for the benefit of mankind." 

 Furthermore, the means employed to effectuate 

 this program must further the objective of "co- 

 operation by the United States with other nations 

 and groups of nations and international organiza- 

 tions in marine science activities when such co- 

 operation is in the national interest." 



II. POLICIES DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT 



In his first Report to the Congress under the 

 Act, President Johnson challenged the country to 



encounter the "depth of the sea" as "a new 

 environment for man's exploration and develop- 

 ment."^ The President promised: "We shall bring 

 to the challenge of the ocean depths— as we have 

 brought to the challenge of outer space— a determi- 

 nation to work with all nations to develop the seas 

 for the benefit of mankind."^ To this end, he 

 pledged: 



The vast food reserves of the sea must be 

 developed to help end the tragic cycle of famine 

 and despair. 



« * * 



The wealth of the ocean floor must be freed for 

 the benefit of all people. 



Finally, the seas must be used as pathways to 

 improved international understanding and co- 

 operation.'^ 



At a time when the peoples of the world live 

 under a threat of nuclear holocaust and the United 

 States is engaged in a bitter, armed conflict far 

 from its shores, it is vital to encourage inter- 

 national activities that emphasize the common 

 interests of all nations and their peoples. The 

 International Panel shares President Johnson's 

 conviction that marine scientific inquiry and re- 

 source development offer realistic opportunities to 

 benefit mankind. 



With the necessary international cooperation, 

 the living resources of the sea can make a 

 significant contribution to the prevention of 

 world-wide malnutrition and disease. 



Scientists of all nations share the interest in 

 conducting the global investigations which are 

 essential to observe, describe and understand the 

 physical, geological, chemical and biological 

 phenomena of the marine envirorunent. Inter- 

 national scientific cooperation will be necessary to 

 conduct these investigations and attain an under- 

 standing of the marine environment in time to 

 benefit the living generations of mankind. 



'Pub.L. 89-454, 80 Stat. 203, June 17. 1966, 33 

 U.S.C. §§1101-08 (1967). The Act was amended by Pub. 

 L. 89-688, Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 1001, 33 U.S.C. 

 §§1121-24 (1967), which provided for the sea grant 

 colleges and programs. 



Marine Science Affairs-A Year of Transition, the 

 First Report of the President to the Congress on Marine 

 Resources and Engineering Development at v. (1967). 



^Ibid. 



'*Id. at iii. 



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