OPENING ADDRESS

by Dr. Yasuhiro Ganeko, Director General of Hydrographic Department, JCG

Good Morning, ladies and gentlemen;

It is my great honor to welcome you and have the opportunity to address you on the occasion of the International Workshop for GODAR-WESTPAC to begin with. I would like to express my gratitude for the participation, Mr. Sydney Levitus, Director of the World Data Center, and so many delegates from the WESTPAC countries. I would also like to thank the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for its support given for the holding of this Workshop.

As we are all aware, the ocean covers 70% of the surface of the earth. It greatly affects the global environment, and provides food and other materials for human beings. We must protect the marine environment in order to be blessed with wealth of ocean continually. For this purpose, I believe that it is very important to monitor and investigate oceanographic phenomena. However, the ocean surrounding us is vast. In order to conduct such studies and researches effectively, international cooperation and sharing of the observed data are indispensable.

With regard to the oceanographic research, the Western Pacific Region is one of the most active areas in the world. Many oceanographic observation projects and activities are being carried out. However, the fact is that a large quantity of oceanographic observation data ever collected is simply buried and not effectively used.

For these reasons, the outcome of the historical oceanographic data archeology and rescue project, which is the theme of this Workshop, will be of great importance for the collection of basic materials for the oceanographic research. The outcome of the research is expected to contribute greatly to utilization of the ocean and protection of the global environment.

In smoothly promoting and succeeding with such an international project, cooperation by the related organizations is indispensable. And also, I believe that, in this Workshop, the participants deepen friendship and strengthen mutual cooperation, to give a good start to the project.

Thank you.