Energy from the ocean: Some socio-economic considerations

Although many changes are taking place in various fields of oceanography, how will engineers and scientists react to the increasing confrontations with complex economic, political, and environmental changes occurring with respect to coastal and offshore areas? The energy crisis alone raises serious questions which are of vital concern to the disciplines of oceanography. In the international debates over "Who Owns the Oceans", the varied expertise of engineers and scientists whould be ready to offer assistance in the answering of legal, political, and economic questions. New demands for maintaining and improving the quality of the ocean environment are placing perplexing demands upon science and technology. The exploitation of marine resources raises numerous questions. In the economic considerations, oceanographic efforts should proceed in harmony with governmental research programs as well as marine industrial development. This paper reviews some of the obstacles to exploitation by private enterprise and raises the challenge of widening concern for solutions.