Marine Science Affairs 



— The seabed contains abundant oil, gas, minerals, and precious metals. 

 — ^The coastal zone is a major arena for rest and recreation and the 



nursery for marine life. 

 — The entire marine environment serves as a gigantic laboratory of 

 science. 

 In the middle 1950's, the Government requested a major review by the 

 National Academy of Sciences to assess the importance of oceanography in 

 peace and war. The resulting landmark study treated two important 

 questions : 



— Should both naval and civil uses of the sea be expanded to help meet 



national goals and aspirations? 

 — Is man's basic knowledge of the marine environment growing in 

 proportion to his diverse requirements? 

 Answers to these questions were influenced by broad developments in 

 economic and political affairs at home and abroad, and, after 1959, by 

 specific developments in the marine sciences themselves. The United States 

 had become ever more deeply concerned over the danger of conflicts and 

 threats to world order. Simultaneously, advances in scientific research and 

 space exploration had made man appreciate how little he knew of his natural 

 world and impatient to apply science and technology, whenever possible, 

 to the improvement of society. 



In the maritime field, a new impetus occurred to explore and exploit 

 the sea. First, a technological readiness began to emerge from broad ad- 

 vances in science and engineering. Next, important new international con- 

 ventions provided a legal framework more conducive to orderly development 

 of marine resources. Finally, over the past decade, the United States devel- 

 oped a high-quality fleet of research ships, supporting laboratory facilities, 

 and a substantial body of scientific and engineering personnel. 



Despite such evidence of progress in the oceans, the Nation remained 

 undecided as to what fraction of its scientific and industrial resources should 

 be devoted to marine science affairs. 



In 1966, declaring that the public interest required a clear statement of 

 national determination to utilize the seas and the Great Lakes more effec- 

 tively, the Congress created a mechanism by which Federal marine science 

 programs would have greater momentum and sharper direction. 



It passed the Marine Resources and Engineering Development Act of 

 1966, Public Law 89^54} This measure set forth an unprecedented 



^ Following are some abbreviations and definitions generally used in the marine 

 sciences field : 



The Act is customarily called the Marine Sciences Act. 



The National Council on Marine Resources and Engineering Development is 

 usually abbreviated to the Marine Sciences Council. 



The Commission on Marine Science, Engineering, and Resources is usually referred 

 to as the Marine Sciences Commission. 



Marine science is a term employed in Public Law 89-454 to describe scientific 



