Food-from-the-Sea 



in planning Federal fisheiy management and resource development pro- 

 grams. A methodology for analyzing optimum fishing systems was developed. 

 Using data provided by the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, the activities 

 of Boston-based trawlers engaged in exploiting the George's Bank haddock 

 fishery were analyzed as a case study. The investigators concluded that a 

 systems analysis approach can be useful in analyzing the effectiveness of 

 Federal programs — such as subsidy programs in the fishing industry. 



The other study surveyed the practice in many countries of aquaculture — • 

 the rearing of aquatic organisms under controlled conditions. Scientific and 

 economic factors were evaluated. The authors concluded that aquaculture, 

 and particularly broader development of pond culture, can make a very 

 significant contribution to the War on Hunger. The United States, by virtue 

 of its accomplishments in fields such as ecology, genetics, chemistry, and 

 engineering, can contribute to the development of new and improved 

 techniques in aquaculture. The domestic economy might also benefit from 

 aquaculture through increasing production of high quality food items now 

 considered luxury items because of limited supplies. 



The studies are now under review by the concerned agencies, and they 

 will be made available to the public in early 1968. 



Looking Ahead 



In view of the limited economic viability of the U.S. fishing industry, 

 many recent advances in ocean science and technology are not being as 

 eflfectively applied by the United States to enhance production of fisher- 

 ies as by other leading fishing nations. While the programs of the Bureau of 

 Commercial Fisheries described above provide assistance of considerable 

 importance to industry, they cannot in themselves reverse the trend in our 

 declining competitive position in world fisheries. 



Of highest priority should be a new concerted effort of the Federal Gov- 

 ernment, the States, and industry to encourage the evolution of a legal, 

 administrative, and financial framework which harmonizes economic effi- 

 ciency, conservation needs, and local interests. Given the broad range of 

 overlapping and often conflicting domestic laws and interests, together with 

 the complicating impact of international arrangements, a sharp departure 

 from the limited efforts of the past may be required if there is to be a reha- 

 bilitation of the domestic fisheries. 



Concurrent with this effort, there will be technological opportunities to 

 strengthen the capabilities of the industry through automation and mech- 

 anization on shipboard and on shore; development of new products and 

 new processing, preservation, storage, and marketing practices; and in- 



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