A/RES/63/111
facilitate ecosystem approaches, and reaffirms the need for further international
cooperation in support of such initiatives;
137. Reiterates its support for the International Coral Reef Initiative, takes
note of the eleventh International Coral Reef Symposium and the International
Coral Reef Initiative General Meeting, held respectively from 7 to 11 July and on 12
and 13 July 2008 in Fort Lauderdale, United States of America, supports the work
under the Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity and the
elaborated programme of work on marine and coastal biological diversity related to
coral reefs, and notes that the International Coral Reef Initiative is sponsoring the
International Year of the Reef 2008;
138. Encourages States and relevant international institutions to improve
efforts to address coral bleaching by, inter alia, improving monitoring to predict and
identify bleaching events, supporting and strengthening action taken during such
events and improving strategies to manage reefs to support their natural resilience
and enhance their ability to withstand other pressures, including projected ocean
acidification;
139. Encourages States to cooperate, directly or through competent
international bodies, in exchanging information in the event of accidents involving
vessels on coral reefs and in promoting the development of economic assessment
techniques for both restoration and non-use values of coral reef systems;
140. Emphasizes the need to mainstream sustainable coral reef management
and integrated watershed management into national development strategies, as well
as into the activities of relevant United Nations agencies and programmes,
international financial institutions and the donor community;
141. Encourages further studies and consideration of the impacts of ocean
noise on marine living resources, and requests the Division to continue to compile
the peer-reviewed scientific studies it receives from Member States pursuant to
paragraph 107 of resolution 61/222 and, as appropriate, to make them, or references
and links to them, available on its website;
XI
Marine science
142. Calls upon States, individually or in collaboration with each other or
with relevant international organizations and bodies, to improve understanding and
knowledge of the oceans and the deep sea, including, in particular, the extent and
vulnerability of deep sea biodiversity and ecosystems, by increasing their marine
scientific research activities in accordance with the Convention;
143. Notes the contribution of the Census of Marine Life to marine
biodiversity research, and encourages participation in the initiative;
144. Welcomes the adoption by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic
Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization of the guidelines for the implementation of resolution XX-6 of the
Assembly of the Oceanographic Commission regarding the deployment of profiling
floats in the high seas in the framework of the Argo Programme, 57 and encourages
56F
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Resolution EC-XLI.4 of the Executive Council of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.