Report on Work Programme Activities of the CCOP/SOPAC Technical Secretariat, for the Period 1 October 1986 Through 30 September 1987
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CCOP/SOPAC Miscellaneous Report 33 REPORT ON WORK PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES of the CCOP/SOPAC TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT for the period October 1986 through 30 September 1987 by CCDP/SOPAC Technical Secretariat September, 1987 ( 1 ) TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction ....................................... 3 2. Matters arising from the 15th Session ................... 4 3.Staffing ................................................. 7 4.Consultants .............................................. 8 5. Work achieved on Programme Activities ................... 9 I. Nearshore Minerals .......................... 9 II. Hydrocarbons .............................. 10 III. Offshore Minerals ........................ 11 IV. Onshore Minerals .......................... 13 V. Coastal Development ……………………………........... 13 VI. Mapping ................................. 16 VII. Training .................................. 17 VIII. Data Management .......................... 20 IX. Technical Information ..................... 22 X. Technical Support ………...................... 22 XI. Regional Coordination ...................... 23 6. Summary of progress on Country Projects ............. 26 Annex 1. CCOP/SOPAC Publications and Reports ............ 29 (2) 1. Introduction The CCOP/SOPAC Work Programme was established in 1972 at the First Annual Session of the Committee. The Work Programme states the objectives of the Committee's work activities and has been modified, developed, and expanded over the years to meet the changing needs of member countries. At the Annual Sessions of CCOP/SOPAC member countries, with assistance from their technical advisors, review the Work Programme, establish priorities, and develop a programme of tasks to be implemented in the forthcoming year. The overall objectives of the CCOP/SOPAC Work Programme are to: - investigate the mineral potential in island member countries' coastal, nearshore, and offshore areas; - provide information on marine processes in coastal and nearshore areas, and advise island member countries on development activities and the management of those areas; - map the geology of coastal, nearshore, and offshore areas in the SOPAC region; - train island nationals in earth science and marine geology so that they may manage their own Work Programme, and develop and conduct their own work activities with minimal outside support; - provide data management and technical information services as required; - coordinate all Work Programme activities in the region. The CCOP/SOPAC Work Programme is coordinated and implemented by the CCOP/SOPAC Technical Secretariat (Techsec) which is located in Suva, Fiji. Principle sources of funds and technical support used to implement the CCOP/SOPAC Work Programme during the reporting period were: supporting countries - Australia, Canada, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and United States of America; supporting international organisations/programmes - Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC), United Nations through ESCAP/UNDP, and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (UNESCO/IOC). (3) 2. Matters arising from the 15TH SESSION As indicated in the section titled SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS of the Proceedings of the 14th Session, the Committee instructed Techsec as follows: SUM para. B.5: recommended that Techsec contact the relevant organisations for joint approaches for acquisition of a regional data base of high-resolution satellite data. - USP, SPREP, and SPC have all expressed interest in the proposal, and the ramifications of setting up such a data base are being investigated. SUM para. B.7: recommended that Techsec establish a fund upon which member countries could draw for post-disaster studies. - potential funding sources are being developed. SUM para. B.8: recommended that Techsec approach the President of the USSR Academy of Sciences about the availability of photo-images of the SOPAC region taken from Soviet space stations. - an approach was made to the USSR Academy of Sciences following the 15th Session, however no response has been received. SUM para. B.12: recognising the problem existing over the archiving of magnetic tapes of cruises recommended that Techsec investigate the possibility of storing these tapes in existing archives in USA and Australia. - as Australia had joined CCOP/SOPAC at the 15th Session, the request was made again to Australia and is Currently under consideration by Australian National Archives. SUM para. B.13: recommended that Techsec contact the Australian national representative to ask him to further investigate the possibility of magnetic tape storage for CCOP/SOPAC countries at the Australian National Archives. - (see 8.12 above) (4 ) SUM para. B. 19: recommended that Techsec approach the FRG Government to seek funding for a training workshop aboard the Sonne during one of its port calls in the CCOP/SOPAC region. - preliminary enquiries have been made and a proposal is being prepared. SUM para. 8.23: recommended that Techsec prepare an information paper setting down the objectives and modalities of CCOP/SOPAC training programmes for possible submission to the Special Commission 2 of the Preparatory Commission for the International Seabed Authority and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. - a paper was submitted as recommended (CCOP/SOPAC Miscellaneous Report 27). SUM para. 8.33: noting the desirability of acquainting the member countries with proposed cruise plans at the earliest opportunity recommended that Techsec prepare a standard procedure for communication between the parties involved. - a draft document is under preparation. SUM para.B.34: recommended that Techsec should explore the possibility of using EEC seabed mapping funds for limited swath-mapping surveys in areas of high scientific interest of possible economic potential when the Charles Darwin enters the Pacific in 1988 carrying the IOS GLORIA onboard. - 30 days of Charles Darwin time have been tentatively programmed for CCOP/SOPAC and ODP programmes in the South Pacific. SUM para. b.35: noted ESCAP's indicated willingness to continue support for projects and training in the SOPAC region and recommended that Techsec and ESCAP arrange to continue the training, the funding and the provision of equipment in relation to the Netherland- CCOP/SOPAC joint drilling project. - ESCAP has advised CCOP/SOPAC that the Netherlands Government has discontinued its assistance to the drilling programme. (5) SUM para. b.36: recommended that Techsec explore the possibility of having the ESCAP Remote Sensing Project provide support to CCOP/SOPAC pilot projects. - the Government of France have agreed to support CCOP/SOPAC remote sensing pilot projects. SUM para. B.37: noting the generous offer by Canada, recommended that Techsec seek to get the Canadian petroleum geologist in post as soon as possible. - a petroleum geologist and a petroleum geophysicist, both funded by Canada, commenced duties at Techsec in the middle of 1987. SUM para. B.38: also noting the Chinese offer recommended that Techsec through ESCAP should explore the possibility of China assigning a hydrogeologist to the Techsec. - China is willing to provide the services of a hydrogeologist provided CCOP/SOPAC pay travel costs and an allowance to cover all living expenses incurred during his time at Techsec. (6) 5. Work on the CCOP/SOPAC Work Programme_ achieved according to PROGRAMME ACTIVITY: NEARSHORE MINERALS CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS Surveys for nearshore sand and gravel resources were carried out off Tongatapu and Vava'u, TONGA. A field report on this task has been completed. A field report on the Tarawa, KIRIBATI, sand resource surveys is in draft form and awaiting completion. DETRITAL MINERALS No work on detrital minerals was undertaken in any of the member countries. A survey planned for Laucala Bay, FIJI was postponed due to delays in the delivery of coring equipment. Compilation of an electronic bibliography on detrital mineral resources of each country has been initiated at the Techsec. INSULAR PHOSPHATES An electronic bibliography on insular phosphates has been developed at Techsec. This bibliography catalogue and summarises literature relevant to the phosphate prospecting program. Phosphate surveys were undertaken in two countries during the reporting period, COOK ISLANDS and TUVALU. Geochemical analyses of cores from lagoonal drilling in Aitutaki, COOK ISLANDS during 1986 have been completed and the final report is in draft form. A drilling program has been initiated in NORTHERN COOK ISLANDS, using the CCOP/SOPAC barge-mounted drilling system. The programme involved drilling for lagoonal phosphates in Pukapuka and Rakahanga Lagoons. Drilling locations were determined from geophysical surveys of the lagoon seabed during the survey. Drilling operations were hampered by the sinking of the barge and rig during a storm but at the time of this writing, the rig had been salvaged and drilling was continuing. During the CCOP/SOPAC Coastal Mapping Workshop held in TUVALU in June of 1987, phosphate deposits on Funafuti were mapped and samples collected in preparation for an island drilling programme in 1988. (9) PRECIOUS CORALS An overview of the precious corals work programme has been undertaken for each of the member countries. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the potential for finding commercial precious coral beds based on (a) previous precious coral survey work within each country and (b) recent information on the distribution