28 July 1983

Marine affairs

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its long-standing interest in marine affairs and its numerous resolutions on various aspects of the subject dating back to 1966,

Recalling also its resolution 1980/68 of 25 July 1980, in response to which the Secretary-General has submitted to the Council a note on economic and technical developments in marine affairs,

Taking note of the adoption by the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea at its eleventh session of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the related resolutions, including the resolution entitled "Development of national marine science, technology and ocean service infrastructures", and of General Assembly resolution 37/66 of 3 December 1982, by which the General Assembly, inter alia, welcomed the adoption of the Convention and the related resolutions and approved the assumption by the Secretary-General of the responsibilities entrusted to him under the Convention and the related resolutions,

Taking note also of the recommendations, decisions and observations made by the Committee for Programme and Co-ordination at its twenty-third session concerning the cross-organizational programme analysis of activities in marine affairs and the new major programme in marine affairs, particularly the Committee's recommendation that the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly should adopt the new programme, as revised, for inclusion as chapter 25 in the proposed medium-term plan for the period 1984-1989,

Bearing in mind that the present activities of the Secretary-General relating to marine affairs already contribute to a large extent to the fulfilment of his responsibilities and the exercise of his functions resulting from the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the related resolutions,

Believing firmly that the growing needs of Member States, particularly developing countries, for information, advice and assistance regarding legal, economic and technical aspects of marine affairs warrant an appropriate and commensurate effort on the part of the United Nations and the organizations of the United Nations system to respond to those needs,

1. Invites the organizations of the United Nations system, each within its sphere of competence, and with due regard for the efficient co-ordination of activities on a system-wide basis, to continue to make their respective programmes of activities fully responsive to the growing needs of Member States in the field of marine affairs, particularly in the light of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the related resolutions;

2. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee for Programme and Co-ordination regarding the new major programme in marine affairs, as revised;

3. Requests the Secretary-General to pursue, within existing budgetary resources, and taking into account the recommendations made by the Committee for Programme and Co-ordination at its resumed twenty-third session with regard to the relevant sections of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 1984-1985, the programme of activities, including collection, analysis and dissemination of information and data, dealing with:

(a) Planning and management with a view to the national development and utilization of the resources of coastal areas and exclusive economic zones;

(b) Economic and technical issues related to the development of marine mineral resources in connection with the role of non-renewable resources and their impact on the economies of developing countries as well as on the world economy;

(c) Issues relating to the acquisition and introduction of marine technologies for the development of the resources of the sea, taking into account the need to avoid duplication of work in other competent organizations of the United Nations system in their respective areas of competence;

4. Recommends to the General Assembly, when it considers the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of Assembly resolution 37/66, that it should give due consideration to the continuation of activities concerned with information, assistance and advice in matters relating to the new legal regime of the oceans;

5. Invites the Secretary-General, in close co-operation with the competent organizations of the United Nations system, to submit to the Council, at its second regular session of 1985, a comprehensive report on economic and technical trends and developments in marine affairs.