The United States is thus encouraging the international development of long-range plans for intensified cooperative exploration of the oceans. The past cooperative programs developed by scientists of many nations have already provided many valuable insights of benefit to these nations, and such a long-range program might include new efforts related to geological mapping of the continental margins and deep ocean floor and biological surveys to assess fishery stocks. All nations are invited to participate in this world-wide endeavor. If other nations join in such an enterprise, existing ocean exploration activities of international organizations will provide an excellent point of departure. Internal planning for ocean exploration activities of the United States, including participation in international endeavors, is described in Chapter VIII. 3. Evolving Fishery Arrangements The following considerations necessitate further development of fishery arrangements that harmonize broad national goals, conservation needs, and domestic economic concerns: -There has been a recent increase of foreign fleets fishing in U.S. coastal waters for species which have long been taken by our coastal fishermen. Conflicts often arise because these fleets of large vessels pre-empt the fishing grounds or because the catch by the larger distant water vessels reduces the amount available for United States fishermen. -The United States fishing industry is lagging behind the industries of other nations. -International fishery arrangements are increasingly influencing the economic aspects of fishing activities. -United States distant water fishermen working intensively off the coasts of other countries occasionally raise fears that the local resources are being depleted. -There is increasing overlap in the geographic areas of concern to the fishery commissions. -Some nations are sending fishing fleets to areas covered by international fishery conventions to which they do not adhere. -Finally, the world hunger situation requires further development of the food resources of the oceans. To strengthen the international legal framework for fishing in the near term, all nations should be encouraged to adhere to the Geneva Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources of the High Seas; the complex interrelationships among the many fishing conventions and 6 Table E-3 of Appendix E lists those countries which adhere to the Geneva Conventions on the Law of the Sea. among the conventions and the world hunger problem must be better understood; and more attention should be given to the economic as well as the conservation aspects of specific international fishery agreements. 4. International Marine Preserves As man's influence on the natural marine environment increases, there is an urgent need to preserve major types of unmodified ocean habitats for research and education in the marine sciences. Such areas can serve as ecological baselines to provide a basis for comparison in future investigations of the oceans. Therefore, international consideration should be given to the establishment of international marine wilderness preserves. For example, characteristic marine features such as a deep ocean trench, a group of sea mounts, and an uninhabited coral atoll might be set aside exclusively for research and education. 5. Ocean Acres The concept of international ocean acres, i.e. limited ocean areas designated for intensive research over a period of many years, was also endorsed by the Council. Ocean acres might be established in the vicinity of marine preserves or could be established independent of preserves such as the areas in the North Atlantic identified by several nations as of particular interest in connection with the projects of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. 6. Cooperation on a Regional Basis Marine science and technology offer many opportunities for regional cooperation which can strengthen scientific and economic capabilities and promote regional cohesiveness and stability. Therefore, the United States is emphasizing regional cooperation through more deliberate use of many bilateral and multi-lateral channels. In carrying out the policy enunciated by the President at Punta del Este to support regional marine science and technology activities, the United States is considering projects related to: -development of the Plate River Basin; -regional marine science centers of excellence; -U.S. support of marine research and education in Latin America; -cooperative Caribbean research activities. With regard to Europe, regional marine programs can contribute to strengthening Atlantic alliances, furthering the economic integration of Western Europe, and quickening progress in East-West relations. The United States has discussed in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development the possibility of cooperative work in various aspects of marine science affairs and continues to support the activities of the NATO Subcommittee on Oceanography. Also the United States will shortly rejoin the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas. 7. Collaboration in Oceanographic Research During the past year cooperation with the Soviet Union and other countries has increased in oceanography and fishery research. Specifically, there have been exchange visits of oceanographers, reciprocal calls by large oceanographic research vessels, and development of collaborative fishery research projects. A useful step in improving cooperation has been the adoption of a U.S. policy to reduce administrative delays in arranging for Soviet fishery research ships engaged in bilateral research programs to call at U.S. ports. As the tracks of United States oceanographic ships and ships of other nations cross more frequently, expansion of these very modest efforts is essential to eliminate unnecessary duplication and foster availability of data to each other. Such collaboration can make a major contribution to international cooperation and understanding and to effective use of the sea. The seven above listed international activities provide innumerable opportunities for our marine science programs to contribute to international understanding through (a) joint working projects, and (b) multilateral development of legal arrangements to prevent conflicts. Indeed, the only alternative to international cooperation in oceanic matters is anarchy on the seas. "The scale, severity, and duration of the world food problems are so great that a massive, long-range, innovative effort unprecedented in human history will be required to master it . . ."- -THE WORLD FOOD PROBLEM, REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT'S SCIENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, MAY 1967 Chapter III ACCELERATING USE OF MORE effective use of the living resources of the ocean can provide better and less expensive food, enchance economic opportunities at home and abroad, and serve as an important weapon in the world-wide War on Hunger. Our interest in improved utilization of these resources is thus motivated by separate but related considerations. A strengthened American fishing industry can assist the growth of our domestic economy by contributing to: -a wider variety of food products for many Americans; ---more viable economies of coastal communities dependent on fishing, -reduction of the balance of payments deficit by larger U.S. exports of fish products and by improving the competitiveness of the U.S. fishing industry. Furthermore, if we are to sustain world leadership on a broad front in the understanding and effective use of the sea, strong research and industrial capabilities in the field of fisheries are essential. Much is known about present and predictable ravages of malnutrition and famine. Yet world food production has barely kept pace with a rapidly expanding population. Protein malnutrition afflicts one-half of the world population-one and one-half billion people. Thus, the imbalance between protein supplies and requirements is so serious that every reasonable ap 287-921 0-68 |