part of this program. 



INCREASING USE— Research currently under- 

 way at the Bureau's Technological Labora- 

 tory in Gloucester on methods of utilizing 

 more effectively the regional trawl fish re- 

 sources will be intensified. The objectives of 

 these technological studies have been and 

 will continue to be the improvement of the 

 quality of fishery products and the develop- 

 ment of new uses for the byproducts of proc- 

 essing trawl-caught fish. During the first year 

 of this program, greater attention will be 



MENHADEN 



STUDY OF THE RESOURCE — Biological Studies 

 of this important resource are the responsi- 

 bility of the Bureau's Gulf and South Atlan- 

 tic Region (Region 2) . Upon that group falls 

 the major responsibility for measuring and 

 predicting the abundance of menhaden. The 

 studies during the first year of this program 

 will concentrate on population structures, 

 effects of environmental factors on survival 

 of young fish, and biological surveys of estu- 

 aries. In the future, tagging experiments will 

 shed more light on fish age, behavior, and 

 movement. Laboratory and field environ- 

 mental research will also be expanded to 

 furnish more complete biological informa- 

 tion on this resource. 



DEFINING THE LIMITS — During the first 

 year of the program, exploratory fishing re- 

 search will better define the limits of the 

 menhaden resource. Systematic surveys of the 

 midwater zones along the Continental Shelf 

 will attempt to establish a year-round men- 

 haden harvest. 



DEVELOPING NEW USES — Research on men- 

 haden and menhaden products is conducted 

 at technological laboratories in this Region 



given to the investigation of quality changes 

 in fresh and frozen fishery products. The 

 development of quality standards and speci- 

 fications will be continued, as will the basic 

 biochemical research on protein and on flavor 

 and odor. A further intensification of research 

 on fish quality and handling is planned for 

 the future. New preservation methods such as 

 radiation-pasteurization of seafood will be 

 evaluated, and greater attention will be given 

 to fundamental biochemical studies of fish 

 tissue. 



and in the Bureau's North Pacific Region 

 (Region l). Nutritional and biochemical 

 studies of industrial products are handled at 

 College Park, while the basic research on fish 

 oils is performed at Seattle, Wash. 



Research leading to better methods of 

 utilizing menhaden is an important part of 

 the future program. In Region 3, nutritional, 

 biochemical, and processing studies aimed at 

 increasing the use of fish meal will be con- 

 tinued during the first year of this program. 

 In addition, new methods will be explored 

 for processing many species into a protein 

 concentrate for human use. In Region 1, basic 

 research will be continued on the chemistry 

 of fish oils and on more effective methods of 

 using these important oils. These and other 

 research findings are being brought to the 

 attention of producers, processors, and actual 

 and potential users of menhaden end prod- 

 ucts so as to expand and diversify markets. 



Information is not available on the eco- 

 nomic conditions affecting production, distri- 

 bution, and marketing of menhaden products. 

 An economic analysis of the menhaden indus- 

 try is planned to provide data that will enable 

 industry to improve its competitive position. 



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