-The number of UN-supported assistance programs in fisheries and maritime safety is being increased (IBRD-UNDP-FAO-IMCO). -International measures are under consideration to prevent disasters involving hazardous ship cargoes such as the TORREY CANYON oil pollution spill near the United Kingdom (IMCO). -Fire safety standards for new ship designs were adopted (IMCO). -Assistance is increasing to developing nations for their port and coastal development (IBRD). -Ships are being encouraged to participate in a voluntary weather Cooperative off-shore geophysical surveys are being expanded in -International quality standards for fish protein concentrate are United States contributions to the United Nations and its specialized agencies in support of marine science activities totalled about $3.0 million in FY 1968 and are estimated at $3.1 million in FY 1969. This does not include the activities of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Other International Bodies A Convention is now being ratified to establish an International Hydrographic Organization, encompassing the present International Hydrographic Bureau (IHB), to improve coordinated mapping and charting. The United States contribution to the International Hydrographic Bureau was $12,500 in FY 1968 and is estimated at the same level in FY 1969. Additional contributions are made through participation in specific projects. Smaller contributions are also made to many of the other international organizations identified in Appendix E, Table E-1, which serve as coordinating mechanisms in limited areas of marine sciences. The International Council of Scientific Unions is considering the establishment of a Union of Marine Sciences, consolidating the diverse marine activities of several Unions. In the industrial sector, considerable attention was devoted to off-shore resources during the World Petroleum Congress. Bilateral Cooperation Marine capabilities to promote economic development in South Vietnam are being strengthened by such cooperative programs with the Vietnamese as a major fishery development program through the FAO, a number of port and harbor development projects, coastal and riverine hydrographic surveys, and cooperative oceanographic surveys. On its global scientific expedition, the OCEANOGRAPHER, carrying the personal greetings of the Vice President, called at 12 ports in 11 countries. Fifty foreign scientists participated on portions of the voyage symbolizing U.S. policy of encouraging cooperative use of advanced research capabilities for mutual benefit. Following a general policy to make technology developed with U.S. Government funds widely available whenever possible, a number of actions were undertaken: At the invitation of the U.S. Government, British, Australian, and Canadian divers entered aquanaut training in the United States in preparation for their participation in SEALAB III experiments next summer. Specialists from other nations will be invited to observe from the surface. In another step towards increased international cooperation, the Navy Navigation Satellite System (TRANSIT) was released this year for civilian use, and requests for purchase of U.S. receivers from abroad will be considered under munitions control procedures. During the past year, arrangements were made to turn over to Italy, Korea, Liberia, and India vessels not needed in the United States for marine science activities. Several Government agencies support marine science activities abroad using excess currencies available under Public Law 480. These programs have been very effective in promoting international scientific activities in such countries as Israel and Tunisia. International Fishery Arrangements 3 With more nations looking to the sea for food, some conflicts between nations fishing common stocks are inevitable. During the past year, the United States made special efforts to protect the rights of in-shore coastal fishermen and at the same time to give ample opportunity for high seas fishermen to explore and develop unused fishery stocks. The United States participated in the development of the following international fishery arrangements during 1967: -extension of agreements with the USSR concerning king crab fishing in the Eastern Bering Sea, fishing gear conflicts off Alaska, and fishing activities off the Washington-Oregon coast; and a new agreement concerning fishing off the mid-Atlantic states; 'Fishery conventions to which the U.S. adheres as well as other international treaties in the marine field are identified in Table E-5 of Appendix E. -an agreement with Japan concerning the new U.S. contiguous fishery zone and king crab and halibut fishing on the high seas; -an agreement with Mexico concerning fishing of each country in the fishery zone of the other and related fishery data exchanges and cooperative research programs; development of new conservation measures under the International Convention for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries; -a new program of the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission of coordinated research on ground fish resources; -designation of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission as the coordinating agency for the alewife program in Lake Michigan; -conclusion of a Convention on the Conduct of Fishing Operations in the North Atlantic. The United States contribution to eight international fishery commissions was $2.0 million in FY 1968 and is estimated at $2.1 million in FY 1969. These commissions are responsible for research and management practices concerning fish stocks which provide an annual catch to American fishermen valued at more than $200 million. Consultation With Other Nations The President and Vice President discussed international cooperation in the marine sciences with a number of heads of state of Latin America, Europe, and Asia. The President's speech during the Latin American Summit Meeting at Punta del Este and the communiques following the visits to the United States of Premier Sato of Japan and President Marcos of the Philippines identified marine science cooperation for emphasis. The Council's Executive Secretary met with senior policy officials in a number of countries to explain U.S. policies and plans and to encourage policy-level attention abroad on new opportunities to derive benefits from ocean activities through inter-governmental cooperation. Federal Policy Coordination Early in 1967, the Secretary of State, at the request of the Vice President, established an ad hoc interagency Committee on International Policy for the Marine Environment to develop Government-wide policies and arrange The texts of the marine science portions of the speech and communiques are included in Appendix E, Table E-6. ments. Several temporary panels were established to examine such matters as scientific cooperation, the exploration and use of the mineral resources of the seabed, underseas technology, the living resources of the oceans, regional cooperation in Latin America and Europe, and the national security aspects of these questions. It was this ad hoc Committee, for example, which was the mechanism for developing a Government-wide position on the seabed issue considered by the General Assembly. The ad hoc Committee has now been converted into a standing committee. Other inter-agency committees continue to be responsible for the development of United States positions at inter-governmental meetings on such specialized marine matters as the fishery activities of FAO, the fishery commissions, oil pollution, maritime communications, and export of technology. To insure that new proposals for international collaborative programs that involve several Federal agencies are thoroughly evaluated throughout the Government, procedures have been adopted by the Council whereby a lead agency is designated for evaluating, coordinating, and implementing plans. The Marine Resources and Engineering Development Act explicitly calls upon the President, with the advice and assistance of the Marine Sciences Council, to undertake legal studies concerned with the management, use, development, and control of marine resources. Thus, three studies by outstanding legal authorities were undertaken through Council contracts, with guidance from the Legal Adviser of the Department of State, on international law aspects of off-shore petroleum, gas, and solid minerals; oceanographic research; and fishing. These will be made available by the Council early in 1968 to facilitate broad examination of the issues. Authors of the three studies singled out the following conclusions as being of particular interest. These have not yet been reviewed by the member agencies of the Council, and they will be considered together with other suggested approaches: -There should be deliberate policy decisions on the extent of the Continental Shelf; a precise definition of its seaward boundary seems desirable. A buffer zone might be established to bridge the boundary between the Shelf and the seabed with the coastal states' interests in the ocean floor given special protection in the Zone. -The U.S. should seek an international legal framework which promotes freedom of oceanographic research within waters subject to national control and on the Continental Shelf. Consideration with regard to living resources might be given to establishment of a global conservation authority which would strive to extend and improve existing international regulation of high seas exploitation in the interest of conservation and efficiency. Surveys of the marine science activities of other nations, U.S.-funded marine science programs abroad, and marine activities of international organizations were also undertaken by the Council staff. These surveys have highlighted the large number of different ministries involved in marine activities in almost every nation, the variety of U.S.-sponsored cooperative projects throughout the world, and the diversity of the activities of the many international organizations involved in marine matters. Some of these surveys will be released in 1968. Strengthening International Arrangements While the previous discussion reflects our immediate concerns, increasing attention is being devoted to longer-term questions and programs, particularly: 1. A Legal Regime for the Deep Ocean Seabed As inter-governmental attention focuses on the seabed, two paramount issues arise: "What should be the seaward limit of the Continental Shelf?" and "What resources are there beyond the Continental Shelf and who should control them?" The work of the ad hoc Committee of the General Assembly should contribute to a better understanding of the issues involved while the programs for international ocean exploration described below are intended to provide new insights into resource distribution. A desirable early step in the evolution of the legal regime for the seabed would be international accord on certain general principles. As already enunciated by the United States, the seabed should not become a stage for a new form of colonial rivalry and should not be subjected to claims of national sovereignty. Rather, the seabed should be open to exploration and use by all states without discrimination. International standards should be set to foster orderly exploration and use of the seabed. Cooperative scientific research of the seabed should be encouraged together with broad dissemination of results. Activities on the seabed should be conducted with reasonable regard for the activities of other states. Pollution and interference with the traditional freedoms of the seas should be avoided. 2. International Ocean Exploration Without more scientific knowledge of the distribution and extent of ocean resources, no nation can optimally develop and utilize them. Our lack of knowledge of the scale and location of ocean resources also hampers the making of sound policy decisions, domestically and internationally, affecting commercial, scientific, and political interests. This highlights the importance of increased scientific knowledge to fuller use of the potential of the oceans and to informed decisions concerning ocean activities. |