IV-C-2 



Cottam, C. 1968. Research needs in estuarine areas of the Gulf Coast. 

 Pages 227-240 vn_J. D. Newsoni, ed.. Proceedings of the marsh and estuary 

 management symposium. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. 



Much of the food for fin and shellfish and shrimp, as well as for 

 their respective food chains, found in the more permanent waters of 

 estuaries originated in the adjacent marshes, tidal flats, and 

 periodically flooded semi-upland areas. Food chain interrelation- 

 ships need more research. 



Better management of estuaries is needed if they are to be protected. 

 To accomplish this, knowledge of the overall ecological relationships 

 of total communities of organisms is needed. This study should include 

 waterfowl, mammals, grasses, amphibians, and fishes, among others. 

 Effects of dredging and filling and changes resulting from pollution 

 need to be examined. 



Fully two-thirds of all coastal sport fish are dependent on estuaries 

 during all or a part of their lives. More research is needed not only 

 on the biological and ecological aspects of the species but also on the 

 different types of environment. A major need is a broad study of the 

 ecology of the Gulf and its estuaries and an understanding of the physi- 

 cal conditions that produce and maintain estuaries. (B.W.) 



Keywords: estuaries, shellfish, shrimp, food chains, U.S. Gulf coast 



IV-C-3 



Gunter, G. 1967. Some relationships of estuaries to the fisheries of 



the Gulf of Mexico. Pages 621-637 u[ G.H. Lauff, ed.. Estuaries. American 



Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, D.C. 



In recent years, the total production of fisheries along the 1,500 

 miles of Gulf coast represents about 28 percent of the U.S. total. 

 The 425 miles of coast between Pascagoula, Mississippi, and Port 

 Arthur, Texas, accounted for 21 percent of total U.S. fishery products. 

 This region has been called the "Fertile Fisheries Crescent." 



In 1961 the order of rank of species in terms of weight was: menhaden, 

 one billion pounds; brown shrimp, 39 million pounds; croakers, 39 million 

 pounds; blue crabs, 35 million pounds; striped mullet, 33 million 

 pounds; pink shrimp, 24 million pounds; flat croakers, 18.5 million 

 pounds; oysters, 18.2 million pounds; and white shrimp, 14 million 

 pounds. 



During 1961, fishery production in the Gulf states amounted to 

 1,377 billion pounds, of which 9.3 million pounds came from fresh 



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