U.S. living standards and costs, subsidized foreign production, and high 

 vessel casualty rates.* However, a substantial part of high U.S. costs stems 

 from our management of the fisheries as common property resources which 

 often leads to over capitalization, more boats and fishermen than are needed 

 to harvest the optimum yields, and resulting conservation regulations which 

 downgrade harvesting efficiency to limit the total catch of the larger-than- 

 necessary fishing fleet. This profit squeeze is widely felt, contributing to locally 

 depressed incomes, limited and highly selective capital investments in U.S.- 

 flag fishing vessels, and unemployment in some U.S. fishery localities. 



Revitalizing the Fishing Industry 



The domestic and foreign demand for fish and shellfish products will 

 continue to mount in the years ahead, as both staples and gourmet foods. 

 Many U.S. coastal communities and industries will continue to rely upon 

 the fishing industry to supply jobs, income and raw materials. 



Programs of research and development have an important role to play 

 in strengthening the fishing industry. Basic biological studies provide a 

 basis for assessing fish yields. Surveys and exploratory fishing programs 

 establish the potential of latent fisheries. The development of new harvest- 

 ing techniques, fishing gear, and equipment can increase catches and reduce 

 costs. Better and more efficient methods for processing and handling fish 

 products — including quality control and diversified product use — broaden 

 the market and provide more and better fish products for the consumer. 



During the past several years numerous studies have been conducted with- 

 in and outside the Government to identify more clearly ways to overcome 

 impediments to growth of the harvesting sector of the seafood industry. Of 

 importance was a March 1968 conference of representatives of all parts of 

 industry, partially supported by the Marine Sciences Council.^ The Con- 

 ference recommended that the Federal Government reexamine fishing 

 restrictions that reduce efficiencies of the fisherman, consider limiting the 

 number of fishermen exploiting stocks already being fully harvested, im- 

 prove statistics on fisheries, strengthen U.S. policies concerning fishery 

 management, and take into account food shortages on a worldwide scale in 



* "A Study of Cost Benefits and Effectiveness of the Merchant Marine," U.S. Coast 

 Guard, May 1, 1968, identified fishing vessels as having the poorest safety record of any 

 group of U.S. vessels. 



° The Conference on the Future of the U.S. Fishing Industry was held on Mar. 

 25-27, 1968, at the University of Washington, 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. Proceedings 

 of the Conference were published in "The Future of the Fishing Industry of the 

 United States," University of Washington— PubHcations in Fisheries — New Series, 

 Vol. IV, 1968. 



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