Ocean space technology outlook

A survey recently conducted among coastal communities throughout the nation revealed that more than forty percent of them have plans and/or programs, either in development stage or in implementation phase, for the managment of ocean space in their contiguity. Responding to this increasing need and interest ministries and national agencies are engaged in the development of plans and concepts for the effective use of ocean space resources. A variety of offshore island proposals are examples of the products of such activities. Technological development underway is a tool to bring these plans and concepts into reality. The study that followed the survey presents the list of and the interconnections among the constraints that exist or are anticipated. Research and development efforts are needed to coordinate such technological development with the improvement of institutional arrangement and development of management techniques.