IV-303 



problems. Fishing pressure is rising significantly because of 

 increased numbers of fishermen and improved harvesting technology, 

 while catch per fisherman has declined greatly. Increases in 

 market price sustained this odd circumstance, as Figure IV. 4. 13 shows, 



Future Prospects 



Examples of the historical decline and projected pressures on the 

 domestic commercial fishery could be multiplied many times. The 

 market demand for fishery products is growing and is projected to 

 rise sharply in the near future, but the amount of that market 

 which will be supplied by imports is not yet clear. 



It is the conclusion of many experts in the field that a harsh 

 choice must be made in the near future: either the management of 

 the Nation's estuarine resources will be substantially strengthened, 

 institutional constraints relieved, and the trend toward degradation 

 of the estuarine environment stemmed, or the supply of commercially 

 valuable finfish and shellfish to meet rising demands will diminish. 



Mariculture, the manipulation of the estuarine or marine environment 

 to increase production of commercial species, is often cited as a 

 method to overcome the depletion of natural stocks and fill 

 increasing market demands for fish products. The ability of 

 artificial culture to significantly increase yields has been 



