ADVANCEMENT OF MARINE SCIENCES 45 



Declaration of Policy 



Section 2 states the objectives of the Congress with relation to 

 oceanographic and Great Lakes research and surveys. 



The Congress would declare that a sustained program of such 

 scientific studies and surveys, and the education and training of 

 oceanographic scientists, are vital to — 



1. Defense against attack from the oceans and to operation of our 

 own surface and subsurface naval forces with maximum efficiency. 



2. Rehabilitation of our commercial fisheries, and increased utiliza- 

 tion of our marine resources, living, chemical and mineral. 



3. Development of scientific knowledge and understanding of the 

 earth's waters, life, and forces within them, and the interchange of 

 of energy and matter between the sea and atmosphere. 



4. Expansion and security of the Nation's commerce and naviga- 

 tion. 



Sound policy requires, section 2 continues, that in marine research 

 and surveys the United States not be excelled by any nation which may 

 presently or in the future threaten our general welfare, m.aritime 

 commerce, security, access to and utilization of ocean fisheries, or 

 contamination of adjacent seas by radioactive or other harmful 

 wastes. 



To meet this objective, it is stated that there must be a coor- 

 dinated, long-range program of research and survej^s similar or 

 identical to thai recoriimended by the Comnuttee on Oceanography 

 of the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council. 



Such a program would include: 



1. Construction of modern, oceangoing ships for scientific research, 

 surveys, fisheries exploration, and marine resources conservation and 

 development. 



2. Modernization or construction of laboratory and shore facilities 

 for marine and Great Lakes research and oceanographic surveys. 



3. Development of new and improved research tools, devices, and 

 instruments for such scientific studies. 



4. Recruiting prospective oceanographers from students of physics, 

 chemistry, mathematics, biology, engineering, limnology, meteorology, 

 and geology, and facilitating their advanced education in a long-range 

 program which would include, where necessary, scholarships, fellow- 

 ships, and other Federal assistance. 



5. Greater development and utihzation of living marine resources 

 by studies of the occiurence, behavior, classification and potential 

 uses of fish, shellfish, and other marine life. 



6. Maintenance of a national oceanographic center to facilitate 

 exchange of pertinent scientific information. 



7. Development of formal international cooperation in the fields 

 of marine research and oceanographic surveys under proper safeguards. 



Section 2 declares further that a coordinated, long-range program 

 of marine research and surveys requires establishment of a Division 

 of Marine Sciences in the National Science Foundation, and that the 

 divisional committee shall include representation from the appropri- 

 ate Government agencies and marine scientists associated with 

 universities, laboratories, industries or foundations. 



This committee would be authorized and directed to develop and 

 encourage a continuing national policy and program for the promotion 



