Achievements in Marine Conservation, I. Marine Parks by MONA I. BJORKLUND, Fil.Mag.(Lund) Executive Officer, Commission on Ecology, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (JUCN), 1110 Morges, Switzerland. INTRODUCTION Many of these monitoring programmes are being carried out by a Joint Group of Experts on the Scien- The economic activities of Man at sea, in particular tific Aspects of Marine Pollution (GESAMP), which the exploitation of the sea-bed and coastal zones, have is an advisory body of experts nominated by the increased in recent years to such an extent that the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organiza- detrimental effects on the ecological balance in some tion of the United Nations (IMCO), the Food and habitats are no longer minor and incidental. The most Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), serious of these effects are those caused by pollution, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural dumping, and dredging. The advancement of technol- Organization (UNESCO), the World Meteorological ogy will inevitably bring about even more intensive Organization (WMO), the International Atomic and diversified uses of the sea and sea-bed in future. Energy Agency (IAEA), and the United Nations per Oil and gas exploitation is now being followed by se (UN). GESAMP was established for the purpose of large-scale extraction of minerals. Off-shore dredging facilitating interdisciplinary work in the field of for sand and gravel is also increasing, as are many marine pollution for the above-mentioned sponsoring other activities. However, the laissez faire attitude of agencies and for the Intergovernmental Oceanographic many countries exploiting the sea will, hopefully, Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, and to provide them come to an end if only the current Law of the Sea with scientific advice on marine pollution problems. Conference can succeed in establishing an international The IOC endorsed, in 1969, the idea of forming the programme for the allocation and conservation International Decade of Ocean Exploration (IDOE) (including rational utilization) of marine resources.* to gather information about the oceans for the purpose Hitherto, the open seas were considered as belong- of increasing the utilization of their resources for the ing, in principle, to no individual nation, but to all benefit of mankind. At the same time, IOC took nations. However, all nations do not have equal steps to establish the Long-term and Expanded possibilities to exploit ocean resources, as they are Programme of Oceanic Exploration and Research at different stages of development and many are (LEPOR), of which IDOE is an important element. hampered technologically and/or geographically. As The Global Investigation of Pollution in the Marine far as national jurisdiction is concerned, many nations Environment (GIPME), established by IOC in 1971, have no access to the sea. A solution to these problems is one of the more important elements of LEPOR, may be found when the Law of the Sea Conference and is expected to concern itself with long-term discusses areas of territorial waters, marine areas of international cooperation in the scientific investigation limited national jurisdiction, and deep ocean areas. of marine pollution. In addition, there are many Already, many international, national, and regional, institutions and marine scientists in various countries organizations have set up baseline programmes for who are concerned with these matters. Recently, for monitoring the sea (e. g. making systematic measure- example, a U.S.-U.S.S.R. Joint Working Group on ments of the chemical composition of the sea as well the Effects of Pollutants on Marine Organisms has as recording the movements of plankton and other agreed to set up a joint marine environmental moni- marine biota such as particular marine mammals, toring network. fishes, or birds). The data generated by these monitoring programmes will provide invaluable background information for * See also the communication of Professor Sidney J. Holt, marine conservation projects, and two leading orga- Director of the International Ocean Institute, published in our last issue, page 138.—Ed. nizations concerned with conservation of wildlife 205 Environmental Conservation, Vol. 1, No. 3, Autumn 1974—<g) 1974 All Rights Reserved—Printed in Switzerland, Downloaded from https:/www.cambridge.org/core. University of Basel Library, on 11 Jul 2017 at 12:22:35, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https:/www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892900004604 206 Environmental Conservation and their habitats, the International Union for Conser- marine parks (Japan Nature Conservation Society, vation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and 1966). The Regional Symposium on Conservation of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), have understandably Nature-Reefs and Lagoons (held at Noumea, New followed these particular programmes with great Caledonia, in 1971) recommended that all the govern- interest. IUCN/WWF are now actively launching a ments concerned take action to create a range of world conservation programme of the oceans. In underwater reserves and marine parks that would be this programme, particular prominence is being given suitably and effectively protected under appropriate to coastal and estuarine areas, and there is special legislation (South Pacific Commission, 1973). The emphasis on monitoring the conservation status of Second World Conference on National Parks (held in critical marine habitats throughout the world and on Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in 1972) the requirements for their conservation through the urged that action be taken to conserve representative promotion of marine parks and equivalent reserves. parts (habitats) of marine ecosystems (IUCN, 1974). The objective of the programme is to ensure that The promotion of marine parks was also stressed by representative areas of marine ecosystems are pro- the U.N. Conference on the Human Environment, tected, and, concomitantly, that the existence of all held in Stockholm in 1972 (U.N., 1973). important marine forms of life is safeguarded. IUCN/ Preparation is now in hand for further detailed WWF will be working in close collaboration with the discussion of a wide-ranging conservation programme United States International Biological Programme at a planned International Conference on Marine Conservation of Ecosystems Group (US/IBP/CE), Parks and Reserves to be held on 12-14 May 1975 in which already has taken action to bring pertinent Tokyo,Japan. information together. In addition, organizations As mentioned above, the overall objective of IUCN/ such as the FAO Advisory Committee on Marine WWF involvement in the field of marine conservation Resources Research (FAO/ACMRR), the scientific is to examine priorities and coordinate international committee of the International Whaling Commission and national conservation of marine environments— (IWC), the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the with special emphasis on the description, classification, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and conservation, of marine habitats, and particularly (NOAA), as well as various specialist groups in IUCN, on those that are of critical importance for the survival have already accumulated data relative to critical of marine mammals, marine turtles, and species of marine habitats for certain species or groups. other groups inhabiting these areas and which are in* need of immediate protection. High priority is also being given to the coastal zone—including, in partic- TOWARDS HABITAT CONSERVATION ular, estuarine areas, which are characterized by a high concentration of marine species and biotic In too many cases in the past, marine parks and communities, and which may also be important feeding equivalent reserves have been established merely and breeding grounds for other species. In addition, because of an emergency—for example, to preserve a the IUCN/WWF project will be directed towards last important marine area from degradation due to areas having special aesthetic values, e.g. coral reefs. development activities on land—or following the Also, emphasis is given to promoting the establishment establishment of a terrestrial park on shore. The of a world system of marine parks and equivalent shortcomings of such an approach are being increas- reserves for scientific, educational, recreational, and ingly recognized, and the concept of having the economic, purposes, and to developing guidelines for results of an ecological survey as a basis for a compre- their establishment, protection, and management— hensive marine conservation programme is at last including rules of conduct to cover touristic and other gaining acceptance. recreational uses of marine areas. A number of other organizations, both international As part of this programme, the IUCN Secretariat and national, have also undertaken many specific is collecting, processing, and analyzing, information activities in relation to marine conservation. The on existing and projected marine parks and reserves, marine parks concept, for example, has been stressed including islands and coastal areas as well as terrestrial in a number of international conferences. Thus, the parks, for the preparation of a world list of established First World Conference on National Parks (held in protected areas. Seattle in 1962) recommended that the governments Important aspects of marine habitat conservation concerned, and