3) Development of new stocks: Utilizing stand- 

 ard breeding and genetic selection tech- 

 niques, new stocks which have desirable 

 traits, may be developed and introduced 

 into marine waters or into confined 

 waters for aquaculture purposes. 



4) Habitat management and environmental 

 quality: Some species spend a portion of 

 their life cycle in estuaries, rivers, or near 

 shore environments. Poor water quality 

 can have a detrimental effect on the size 

 of the stock either through a marked in- 

 crease in mortality or sublethal effects 

 such as stunted growth. Programs of 

 pollution abatement will assist in stock 

 enhancement. In addition, some attempts 

 at habitat manipulation may increase the 

 availability of a suitable habitat for a 

 species, such as artificial reefs or an in- 

 crease in the level of nutrients by ar- 

 tificial upwelling. These nutrients stimu- 

 late the growth of phytoplankton, mak- 

 ing more food available. 



5) Aquaculture or mariculture: Animal hus- 

 bandry of marine organisms has been ex- 

 tensively tried within the 3-mile limit; 

 however, open-sea mariculture experi- 

 mentation is now underway. Typically 

 aquacultural techniques are used with 

 organisms that are confined to a specific 

 area for harvesting as opposed to nursery 

 programs where organisms are usually 

 released to natural bodies of water. 



Any of these enhancement techniques have 

 implications for data gathering programs 

 because specific information is necessary for 

 carrying out the procedures, beginning with 



an understanding of the genetic and func- 

 tional differences — ^the different stocks or 

 populations — that exist within one species of 

 fish. Most of the economic, social, and stock 

 assessment information mentioned in the pre- 

 vious section would also be necessary to 

 design and implement enhancement 

 programs which carry out the spirit of Public 

 Law 94-265. 



Decisions for improving an existing fishery 

 or developing a new fishery by enhancement 

 techniques would require an intensive and 

 integrated examination of all facets of a fish- 

 ery: resource assessment, harvest and process- 

 ing technologies and costs; market potentials; 

 and institutional factors including artificial 

 barriers to trade. But the absence of viable in- 

 dustry for the fishery make it likely that 

 special studies will be necessary to collect data 

 and project economic effects. If the enhance- 

 ment efforts were successful, these special 

 studies could become the starting point for the 

 continuous monitoring and periodic collec- 

 tion of statistics which will be part of manage- 

 ment and conservation programs in 

 established fisheries. 



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