more needs to be done, including in economic terms. The growing pressure on the
planet seems to motivate further coherent, consistent and cooperative efforts
towards more complete understanding, knowledge and mapping of conditions and
inventories of the ocean, including the sea floor and interactions between the
subsoil and the ocean. The pressure and concerns furthermore emphasize the
need for scientists and policy makers to work together.
The ocean is a necessary compartment of our common heritage and an important
part of many cultures. Coastal States around the world, in particular Small Island
Developing States, are striving to protect and valorise their marine resources. The
development of science-based and integrated management frameworks as Marine
Spatial Planning, Integrated Coastal Area Management, Marine Protected Areas
and Large Marine Ecosystems become a prerequisite to ensure sustainable economic activities, and help ensuring long-term protection of ocean ecosystems. The
globalization requires safe international communication systems very much
depending upon cables on the ocean floor linking the continents together. Dimensions of a blue economy need ensure a fair and sustainable development of marine
resources, including development of blue carbon markets, protection and restoration of ocean ecosystems, more use of renewable energy and deep sea resources
from the ocean, recycling of pollutants to prevent them reaching the ocean, provision of uncontaminated water for desalination, improving current fisheries and
aquaculture management regimes. However, although the linkages and interactions
are recognized, and that the ocean should be treated as a whole, the ocean governance and management are still very fragmented.
Climate change impacts on the ocean will have profound implications for all
human societies and most of our activities. In view of this insight, social sciences
have a large role to play through research and observations, not only of the ocean
and its resources, but also of the human development. The research, technologies,
sustained observations and dynamic modelling capabilities as well as the capacities
to utilize these elements at national, regional and global level have been sufficiently
developed to make an effort in form of an ocean decade both feasible and
rewarding.
The issues and impacts are interlinked which underlines the necessity of considering not only the maximum global warming but several combined targets, and
adopt a holistic approach in evaluating the life-support system and mitigation of
changes of the whole system. This reflects the realization in UNCLOS of the need
to consider the ocean as a whole. The approach is reflected in the chapters of the
Law of the Sea. Besides specifying the delimitations of different zones, the Law
includes rules regarding the conservation and management of the living resources
of the high seas, concerning protection and preservation of the marine environment,
with respect to conduct of marine scientific research, development and transfer of
marine technology, including the option of establishing regional marine scientific
and technical research centres, and settlements of disputes.
32 Development of International Cooperation in Oceanography: Incentives from. . .
541
planet seems to motivate further coherent, consistent and cooperative efforts
towards more complete understanding, knowledge and mapping of conditions and
inventories of the ocean, including the sea floor and interactions between the
subsoil and the ocean. The pressure and concerns furthermore emphasize the
need for scientists and policy makers to work together.
The ocean is a necessary compartment of our common heritage and an important
part of many cultures. Coastal States around the world, in particular Small Island
Developing States, are striving to protect and valorise their marine resources. The
development of science-based and integrated management frameworks as Marine
Spatial Planning, Integrated Coastal Area Management, Marine Protected Areas
and Large Marine Ecosystems become a prerequisite to ensure sustainable economic activities, and help ensuring long-term protection of ocean ecosystems. The
globalization requires safe international communication systems very much
depending upon cables on the ocean floor linking the continents together. Dimensions of a blue economy need ensure a fair and sustainable development of marine
resources, including development of blue carbon markets, protection and restoration of ocean ecosystems, more use of renewable energy and deep sea resources
from the ocean, recycling of pollutants to prevent them reaching the ocean, provision of uncontaminated water for desalination, improving current fisheries and
aquaculture management regimes. However, although the linkages and interactions
are recognized, and that the ocean should be treated as a whole, the ocean governance and management are still very fragmented.
Climate change impacts on the ocean will have profound implications for all
human societies and most of our activities. In view of this insight, social sciences
have a large role to play through research and observations, not only of the ocean
and its resources, but also of the human development. The research, technologies,
sustained observations and dynamic modelling capabilities as well as the capacities
to utilize these elements at national, regional and global level have been sufficiently
developed to make an effort in form of an ocean decade both feasible and
rewarding.
The issues and impacts are interlinked which underlines the necessity of considering not only the maximum global warming but several combined targets, and
adopt a holistic approach in evaluating the life-support system and mitigation of
changes of the whole system. This reflects the realization in UNCLOS of the need
to consider the ocean as a whole. The approach is reflected in the chapters of the
Law of the Sea. Besides specifying the delimitations of different zones, the Law
includes rules regarding the conservation and management of the living resources
of the high seas, concerning protection and preservation of the marine environment,
with respect to conduct of marine scientific research, development and transfer of
marine technology, including the option of establishing regional marine scientific
and technical research centres, and settlements of disputes.
32 Development of International Cooperation in Oceanography: Incentives from. . .
541