Dear Mr. President: 



I am pleased to forward to you the first report of the National Coun- 

 cil on Marine Eesources and Engineering Development, entitled "Ma- 

 rine Science Affairs — A Year of Transition." 



This report describes current and proposed Federal programs within 

 the scope of the Marine Resources and Engineering Development Act, 

 and presents the rationale and funding requirements of $462 million 

 for the next fiscal year. 



The report also contains the Council's initial findings and recom- 

 mendations to utilize scientific knowledge of the seas and the Great 

 Lakes more effectively to meet national goals. These recommenda- 

 tions were prepared after reviewing proposals from your Science 

 Advisory Committee, Federal agencies, and others, and after evalu- 

 ating the content and balance of current efforts. A consensus was 

 obtained in defining nine areas that immediately deserve special 

 emphasis in "designating agencies' responsibilities and in strengthen- 

 ing coordination for programs that increasingly cross agency lines. 



In short, this report sets forth a perspective to show how a more 

 deliberate study and use of our marine environment may make this 

 country and the world a better place in which to live. It also sets the 

 stage for new opportunities to approach the major questions of world 

 order, starvation and urban development, and for looking ahead to 

 marine science contributions to help resolve problems in the decades 

 to come. 



Sincerely. 



The President, 

 The White House^ 

 Washington, B.C. 



iJUuOlU 



VICE PRESIDENT 



