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and fisheries predominate. Many of these economic activities locate 

 1n various estuarine areas to take advantage of the unique natural 

 resources of the estuarine environment found there. These actlvitl- 

 tles are discussed in the next part of this chapter. 



The overall economic growth of the estuarine zone will continue at 

 a high rate in future decades. Significant concentrations of Indus- 

 try will continue 1n the relatively mature Middle Atlantic biophy- 

 sical region, while significant expansion will occur 1n the Gulf of 

 Mexico and Pacific biophysical regions. Marked differences will 

 occur, however, in the smaller areas making up these biophysical 

 regions, both in economic activity and population distribution. 



FUTURE DISTRIBUTION OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY 

 IN THE BIOPHYSICAL REGIONS 



Economic activities vary greatly throughout the estuarine zone. The 

 principal determinants of economic activity have been the location 

 of natural resources, historic circumstances, availability of 

 substantial markets, and changes in technology. 



The North Atlantic and Middle Atlantic Biophysical Regions 



The New England marine States saw the country's first economic 

 development. Basic resources defined the parameters of activity - 

 forests, fish, fur, and farmlands. Shipbuilding and trade flourished 

 around major centers of ocean-going transportation. The major 

 metropolitan areas of Boston, New York, and Philadelphia developed 



