Marine Science Affairs 



new resources. Thus, there is an urgent need in ocean affairs to prevent 

 conflicts and disputes and a unique opportunity to promote international 

 understanding — through collaborative development of a framework of law 

 to guide ocean activities and through joint working projects to understand 

 and develop the ocean and its resources. With present political uncertainties, 

 our sea-based strategic deterrent and our naval presence provide stabilizing 

 forces that enhance orderly economic and political growth within the in- 

 ternational community. 



Finally, the oceans provide a vast laboratory for scientific inquiry that 

 will advance our understanding of fundamental environmental characteris- 

 tics and processes. Improvements in our ability to understand, and possibly 

 eventually to control, ocean and weather phenomena can affect the lives 

 of many — the farmer, the resort owner, the ship captain, and the ordinary 

 citizen. 



Marine Science Opportunities 



In spite of this growing intimacy of our society with the influences of the 

 oceans, we have only begun to recognize the benefits of being a coastal 

 nation. Among the opportunities and problems of our growing involvement 

 wdth the sea are : 



— Less than 10 percent of our Continental Shelf has been systematically 

 explored although we are confident that abundant oil and mineral 

 resources lie in other areas of the Shelf. 



— Only a small portion of the fishery stocks off our coasts are being 

 fully exploited, and of the total U.S. consumption of fish products 

 less than one-third is provided by U.S. fishermen. 



— Only 6 percent of our international maritime commerce travels in 

 U.S. flag vessels. 



— Only one-third of our coast has sufficiently detailed storm warnings 

 in spite of the tens of millions of dollars of destruction annually in 

 these areas. 



— 20 million children live in metropolitan areas within sight of poten- 

 tial water recreation areas but are often denied their use. 



— -Only 3 percent of our ocean and Great Lakes coastline has been set 

 aside for public use or conservation in spite of rapidly growing 

 demands for such areas. 



- — Pollution of our oceans and estuaries will increase many fold by the 

 year 2000 unless there are drastic changes in waste handling; mean- 

 while, more than 50 million Americans engage in ocean swimming. 



