Food from the Sea 



fisherman which, since 1964, has fallen below the 1957-59 average. Con- 

 versely, for the U.S. economy in general, the average output per worker 

 increased over 30 percent from 1957 to 1967 and, in agriculture — an indus- 

 try whose products compete with fish in the food market — there has been 

 a 67 percent increase. These trends are similarly reflected in the comparative 

 wages for fishermen and for workers in other industries. 



A New Emphasis To Revitalize Our Fishing Industry 



During the past several years numerous studies have been conducted within 

 and outside the government to identify more clearly ways to overcome im- 

 pediments to growth of the har\'esting sector of the seafood industry. Of 

 particular importance was a March 1968 conference of representatives of 

 all parts of industr)', partially supported by the Council.® The conference 

 underscored the need for the Federal Government to reexamine fishing 

 restrictions that reduce efficiency of the fisherman, consider limiting the 

 number of fishermen exploiting stocks already being fully harvested, improve 

 statistics on fisheries, strengthen U.S. policies concerning fishery manage- 

 ment, and take into account food shortages on a world-wide scale in pro- 

 moting development of the domestic industry. Private industry was urged 

 to develop and expand the seafood market and to provide better education 

 and training in the industry. 



In recognition of the many benefits to be realized from a strengthened 

 fishing industry, the Marine Sciences Council this year endorsed the follow- 

 ing approach for expanding the catch by U.S. fishermen and for developing 

 a healthy industry: 



1 . Steps should be taken to : 



— provide uniform Federal guidelines for fishery conservation and man- 

 agement that would eliminate unnecessary restrictions and incon- 

 sistencies and foster selective revisions of State and local laws; 



— encourage the development of competitive ships and equipment in 

 the United States by revising the fishing vessel subsidy program ; and 



— encourage increased opportunities for the sale of the catch of U.S. 

 fishermen and for vertical integration of the U.S. industry. 



2. The Bureau of Commercial Fisheries should give increased attention to : 



" The Conference on the Future of the U.S. Fishing Industry was held on March 25- 

 27, 1968, at the University of Washington in Seattle. Sponsored by the University and 

 industry as well as the Federal Government, it brought together 266 experts from the 

 diverse segments of the fishing and fish processing industry. 



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