台灣四面環海,無論歷史發展、國家情勢、國民經濟、社會活動皆與海洋息息相關,惟礙於國內曾經長期實施戒嚴而致國民普遍欠缺海洋知識,加上特殊國際情勢橫阻,我國迄今尚無法加入「1982年聯合國海洋法公約」(United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982)。為推動我國海洋事務行政院決定設「海洋委員會」。 為有利於我國海洋管理組織架構的規劃,乃檢選加拿大、美國、日本、南韓、英國、挪威、澳洲及紐西蘭之海洋事務相關機關研析之,並整理成整理成一、「海洋事務部」、二、「海洋事務委員會」、三、「海洋政策制定部」及四、「任務編組」等4種類型。 將來行政院海洋委員會的機關功能宜界定於下列諸項: 一、行政院總體海洋政策之規劃; 二、相關機關海洋政策之審議; 三、海洋事務執行之協調誰動及執行結果評估; 四、海洋文教、科技資料之貯存及運用規劃; 五、海洋事務宣導活動之推動。
Being an Ocean Country, Taiwan's historic developments, national situations, national economics, and social activities are all related to the sea. However, the general public lack of maritime knowledge due to long term restrictions imposed by the martial lax. Owing to the special international situation, Taiwan has been having difficulties joining the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982. The Executive Yuan is planning to establish the Council of Maritime Affairs to integrate ocean affairs and maritime management. To plan for the best organizational structure in ocean affairs and maritime management, the study analyzes relevant agencies in Canada, United States, Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom, Norway, Australia, and New Zealand. We propose the following four structural designs: 1. Ministry of Ocean Affairs; 2. Council of Maritime Affairs; 3. Ministry of Ocean Policy; 4. Task Force. Functions of the Council of Maritime Affairs will include, but not restricted to, the following: 1. Planning of overall ocean policy in the Executive Yuan. 2. Deliberation of the ocean policy m related agencies. 3. Coordination and promotion of ocean affairs and evaluation on the results. 4. Planning of preservation and usage of cultural, educational and technical data related to the oceans. 5. Implementation of promotional activities of the ocean affairs.