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Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea
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Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)
 

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO was founded in 1960 on basis of the recognition that:

 

"the oceans, covering some seventy percent of the earth's surface, exert a profound influence on mankind and even on all forms of life on Earth... In order to properly interpret the full value of the oceans to mankind, they must be studied from many points of view. While pioneering research and new ideas usually come from individuals and small groups, many aspects of oceanic investigations present far too formidable a task to be undertaken by any one nation or even a few nations."

 

The work of the IOC, over the three decades since its inception, has focused on promoting marine scientific investigations and related ocean services, with a view to learning more about the nature and resources of the oceans. This has laid the foundation towards an expanded role of the IOC in meeting new challenges.

 

The IOC therefore now focuses on four major themes:

 

  • develop, promote and facilitate international oceanographic research programmes to improve our understanding of critical global and regional ocean processes and their relationship to the sustainable development and stewardship of ocean resources;

 

  • ensure effective planning, establishment and co-ordination of an operational global ocean observing system to provide the information needed for oceanic and atmospheric forecasting, for oceans and coastal zone management by coastal nations, and for global environmental change research;

 

  • provide international leadership for education and training programmes and technical assistance essential for systematic observations of the global ocean and its coastal zone and related research; and

 

  • ensure that ocean data and information obtained through research, observation and monitoring are efficiently handled and made widely available.

 

ACOPS has developed a strong partnership with IOC over the past years. IOC participated actively in the development of the GEF PDF-B Project “Development and Protection of the Marine and Coastal Environment in sub-Saharan Africa”, where it assisted in the process leading up to the preparation of the Project Portfolio. 

 
 

HEAD OFFICE

11 Dartmouth Street, London SW1H 9BN, United Kingdom
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