But
issues related to flat or declining funding are jeopardizing the country's leadership and creating
challenges in maintaining long - term
ocean - related climate observations, the report says.
The conferences have focused on international
ocean affairs with topics ranging from arms control, and monitoring and surveillance in the
oceans to management and conservation of marine resources; the feasibility of common shipping lines or on
ocean development tax; and more recently on emerging
issues and
challenges presented by climate change, coastal cities and
ocean related hazards.