III-6 



Policy and Objectives of a Comprehensive National 

 Estuarine and Coastal Zone Management Program 



The Recommended National Policy. 



Achievement of the best use of the values of the estuarine and coastal 

 zones through a balance between: (a) multi-purpose development; (b) 

 conservation; and (c) preservation over both the short and long-range. 

 Priority consideration should be given to those resources that are 

 non-renewable and to maintaining those resources and uses which are 

 estuarine-dependent. It shall also recognize that the primary 

 responsibility for management of the estuarine and coastal zones 

 rests with the States. 



This recommended national policy recognizes the vital need in present 

 and future programs to: 



--Encourage urban and industrial growth and the resulting land 



use in a manner to preserve the maximum of the estuarine and 



coastal zone resources and to insure the greatest number of 



beneficial uses. 

 --Recognize that estuarine-dependent land uses require preference 



and that some uses such as residential and some industrial uses 



do not need shoreline locations. 

 --Conserve the estuarine and coastal environment to sustain and 



enhance its nursery value, its wildlife habitat value, and its 



commercial fisheries value. 



