OCEANOGRAPHY 



123 



servation and Economic Development. It was discovered that 27 marine species 

 were exploited jointly by sport and commercial tishermen. Of the total catch, 

 44 percent were harvested by sport fishermen. The five most important species 

 to both groups were the .same. This relationship is not much different in other 

 areas of the country. 



Economically, the marine sport fisheries are already at least one-half as valu- 

 able in terms of retail business generated as marine commercial products at 

 retail level. All told, about •"'>.4 million Americans seek needed relaxation by 

 going fishing in the ocean. Marine fish provide a total of sf)me 70 million recre- 

 ational days annually, a rapidly growing figure. 



Last year Congress officially recognized the importance of .salt water sport 

 fishing for the first time. The bill directing the Secretary of Interior to initiate 

 a saltwater sport fish research program was introduced l)y a member of this 

 committee. The hearings held by your committee on ^Mr. Lennon's bill clearly 

 showed that salt water sport fishing is an important and growing segment of 

 the Niition's business and recreation. The number of salt water anglers is grow- 

 ing at a rapid rate. To ignore the importance of sport fishing in the development 

 of the oceanographic program would .seem to be neglectful of responsibilities. 

 We strongly urge that the Department of Interior's participation in the program 

 be broadened to include the Bureau of Sport Fisheries — not confined to the 

 Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. 



For your information, we estimate the current nmnber of salt water anglers 

 in the coastal States to be as follows : 



Total nttmher of saltwater anglers ^ 



Coastal States — Continued 



New Jer.sey 293,000 



New York 608,000 



North Carolina 328. 000 



Oregon 1!)0, 000 



Rhode Island 31, 000 



South Carolina 180, 000 



Texas 748, 000 



Virginia 304, 000 



Washington 198, 000 



Total 5, 391, 000 



Coastal States : 



Alabama 70.000 



California 775, 000 



Connecticut 103. 000 



Delaware 29. 000 



Florida 487, 000 



Georgia 239,000 



Louisiana 209. 000 



Maine 70, 000 



Maryland 148, 000 



Massachusetts 200, 000 



Mississippi 126, 000 



New Hampshire 46, 000 



1 Includes many anglers who also fish in fresh -water. 



We trust that our comments have been constructive. They are not intended 

 as representing opposition to the objectives of the legislation under <'onsidera- 

 tion. We urge the development of an adequate oceanographic research program 

 as quickly as possible. For example, we strongly favor the part of H.R. 9361 

 that calls for the immediate strengthening of the marine biological research 

 effort of the National Science Foundation. Implementation of the National 

 Science Foundation program is probably the best way to get an early start on 

 basic research problems and take advantage of the pool of talent available out- 

 side the Government agencies. There should be early emphasis on contractual 

 and/or grant research because these are excellent ways to meet the need for 

 more trained personnel in this field. 



We appreciate the opportunity to present our views to your committee. 

 Please be assured that we will be glad to assist further in any possible way. 



Mr. Patx. JNIr. Chairman, I am Robert M. Paul, executive secretary 

 of the Sport Fishing Institute in Washington, I am appearing be- 

 fore your committee on belialf of the Sport Fishing Institute in order 

 to join other witnesses in urging the early creation of an adequate 

 national oceanographic research program. 



We would like to discuss briefly the implications of an expanded 

 ocean research program for sport fishing and the need to emphasize 

 the biological phases of the program, particularly as they relate to 

 inshore and estuary areas. 



