Marine Science Affairs 



— to disseminate knowledge and information about marine resource 

 development to all interested and concerned sectors of the Nation 

 through extension and advisory services. 



To accomplish these objectives, there are two modes of support, institu- 

 tional and project. Institutional support is intended to help selected aca- 

 demic institutions evolve into a network of "sea grant colleges" with a 

 wide range of environmental, economic, and technological orientations. 

 These institutions will be expected to provide regional leadership in ocean 

 research and development, and serve as the "seed bed" for a growing national 

 program. Moreover, sea grant colleges, with university-wide commitment 

 to the objectives of the program, can develop the needed competence to deal 

 with applied marine research problems on a much broader interdisciplinary 

 front through the blending of social science skills, particularly in law and 

 economics, with those from the engineering and natural sciences. Sea Grant 

 Project support is directed to individual projects related to marine resource 

 development. Such projects can involve specialized scientific or engineering 

 research, studies, education, advisory, or training activities. 



As a matter of policy, the Council and Foundation have agreed that the 

 Sea Grant Program should be largely oriented to national purposes, such as 

 those dealing with food from the sea, ocean-related environmental forecast- 

 ing, Continental Shelf exploitation, and multiple use of the seacoast. Thus, 

 many government agencies can participate in and benefit from the program. 

 For example, ESSA has taken preliminary steps to establish regional marine 

 specialists at sea grant colleges, and the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries 

 participates in aquaculture projects supported by the program. 



The Long-Term Policy Framework 



The following general policies and guidelines have been established to 

 implement the Act : 



1. Geographic Factors — Geographic dispersal of institutional and project 

 support is considered in evaluating Sea Grant proposals. Proximity to sea- 

 shore and ocean access, while clearly enhancing pursuit of certain types of 

 marine research, is not a requisite to participation in some aspects of the 

 program. In accordance with the Act, obligations made through grants or 

 contracts to institutions in one State in any fiscal year may not exceed 15 

 percent of the total amount appropriated in that year. 



Six Sea Grant institutions are now supported by NSF. As additional capa- 

 bilities are mobilized, one might be established in each coastal and Great 

 Lakes State or region if better served collectively. In addition to considering 



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