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estuarine areas would mean and it may be possible to apportion the 

 increased value of restored or preserved estuaries on the basis 

 of current patterns of usage and importance to our society. It 

 is certain that whatever value may be placed upon the estuaries 

 today, the value of estuaries can only be predicted to increase 

 in the future. 



We need to develop a sound basis for determining the economic 

 and social benefits from estuarine areas and tlieir living 

 resources, both in terms of tangible values and their intangible 

 returns to society. Land-water use studies to determine the real 

 value of the estuaries for cormiercial and sport fisheries, recrea- 

 tion, navigation, and other commercial and industrial uses probably 

 can be quantified even though there are no thorough statistics 

 developed to document the exact value of the millions of acres of 

 bays, estuaries, and coastlines near these estuaries. 



For example, in southern California the loss of the estuaries 

 would destroy the major resource currently available to the bait 

 fishing industry. It would result in the extirpation of those 

 fishes which require the estuaries during their life cycle, such 

 as the striped bass and the croaker. It would result in the loss 

 of a habitat for migratory water fowl and it would result in the 

 loss of an important area for public recreation and aesthetic 

 enjoyment. Recreation includes fishing, swimming, boating, and 



