42 



Dr. Burris. Well, there are a series of things that contribute to 

 that. One I think is the traditional way that we approach the ma- 

 rine environment. 



We have been very much an economy based on fish capture, re- 

 turn and consumption. In places like Japan there has been 

 mariculture and aquaculture for literally centuries, so there has 

 been much more of a sense of cultivation and utilization of the ma- 

 rine environment more than simply as sort of a hunter-and-gath- 

 erer economy, but an aquaculture agriculture. 



So, the better parallel would be the way we have treated re- 

 search in agriculture in our terrestrial crops, where we spend — the 

 Science and Education Directorate, a part of USDA, has an annual 

 budget approaching $1 billion in the Agricultural Research Service 

 and the Cooperative States Research Service. 



So, you see, it is a sort of cultural difference. We spend that type 

 of money in terrestrial biotechnology and terrestrial agriculture. 

 We have not traditionally viewed the marine system in that fash- 

 ion, even to this day, and we have a limited amount of aquaculture 

 that occurs. 



Senator Kerry. While I was gone, did you get into any of the eco- 

 nomic predictions of what you think could come out of marine bio- 

 technology? 



Dr. BURRIS. Well, I listed some, as listed in my testimony, I list- 

 ed some of the opportunities that present themselves. I think it is 

 safe to say that this will be a technology of the 21st century. 



I elaborated in my oral testimony on material that does not ap- 

 pear in the written, which is what the Japanese are doing with re- 

 gards to focused research, and the companies that are investing in 

 marine biotechnology through this Marine Biotechnology Institute, 

 and they include companies like Asahi, Fujitsu, Shisheido, 

 Suntory 



Senator Kerry. What are they looking to produce? 



Dr. Burris. They are looking at a broad spectrum, fine chemicals 

 from the marine environment is one instance. Pharmaceuticals — 

 Shisheido is a cosmetic company. Obviously, they are looking for 

 cosmetics. 



Chemicals, being able to culture algae and fish that can produce 

 oils, a variety of commodity goods. They are looking for value- 

 added products, not simply — I should not say not simply, but not 

 just fish which we eat, but what can one derive with a much great- 

 er value added than fish? What can you get by way of products? 



They are also at this institute doing a lot of work in 

 bioremediation, a lot of work on biofouling, a major issue for de- 

 fense and commercial shipping, and corrosion, and all of those 

 things. 



So, it ranges from the product that they sell to the consumer as 

 a consumable all the way through value-added products as a base 

 for a cosmetic, for example. 



Senator Kerry. I assume Senator Stevens brought up the issue 

 of the hybrid salmon. 



Dr. Burris. Yes. I questioned whether it was sterile or not, so 

 that is what we will have to find out in terms of his risk concern. 



