Looking Ahead 



and benefits beyond national sovereignty that will preserve traditional con- 

 cepts as to freedom of the seas; and what further steps will best serve the 

 many diverse interests of the United States and the world community? 



4. What longer-range steps are required in marine exploration and 

 research to: 



a. implement the International Decade of Ocean Exploration; 



b. strengthen ocean environment observation and prediction capabili- 

 ties; 



c. provide stable support for multi-purpose academic research institu- 

 tions and develop them as national facilities; 



d. utilize research capabilities originally developed for other missions; 

 and 



e. coordinate ocean and atmospheric science and services? 



5. What additional steps should be taken to realize the potential of FPC 

 in the War on Hunger — to translate technical potential into an economi- 

 cally and socially viable enterprise? 



6. What legislative steps are needed to strengthen the domestic fishing 

 industry? 



7. How may support of a balanced, civilian marine technology be under- 

 taken as a specific mode of government assistance to an emerging marine 

 industry, particularly in those research and development areas where in- 

 vestment involves high initial cost or long deferred returns on investments? 



8. What is the role of the U.S. flag merchant marine in contributing to 

 national security and economic development, and what steps are needed 

 to strengthen this element of a maritime presence? 



In posing these questions, we should not lose sight of the great number 

 of marine science issues that have been dealt with over the past three years 

 and the goals and milestones set forth in this and two prior Reports of the 

 President. Their full achievement has necessarily been limited by economic 

 constraints that affected all components of the Federal budget because 

 of the extraordinary demands of the Vietnam conflict and required defer- 

 ment of many otherwise meritorious programs. 



Collectively these short-run and longer-run issues concern the stake that 

 this Nation — and the world — has in the sea. 



Toward better comprehension of the portent for the future, the Presi- 

 dent appointed on January 9, 1967, the public advisory Commission on 

 Marine Science, Engineering, and Resources provided for in P.L. 89-454, 

 with Dr. Julius Stratton designated Chairman. This Commission has been 

 at work for two years, and their comprehensive report was released on 

 January 11, 1969. While their findings and recommendations could not be 

 considered in detail by this Administration, they were deemed to warrant the 

 most serious attention by the next Administration, by the Congress, and by 

 interested public and private bodies. 



203 



