MUS&T programs are closely linked to implementing coastal zone con- 

 servation and management, surveying and assessing the living and nonliving 

 resources of the Continental Shelf, and developing a thorough understand- 

 ing of dynamic ocean processes. Present and future manned undersea projects 

 aim at extending man's ability to op>erate in the underwater environ- 

 ment through technological innovation — ancillary manipulators, improved 

 diver life-support systems, search and recovery gear, scientific equipment, 

 submersibles, and underwater laboratories. 



During the last half of 1971, a representative and promising series of basic 

 and applied science projects were begun utilizing the existing submersibles 

 and habitats. These are expected to act as "seeding" endeavors which will 

 give initial direction to much more extensive regional programs in the 

 future. By the end of the first year of operation, the MUS&T program will 

 have utilized over 100 scientists, six submersibles, and two underwater habi- 

 tats to carry out key scientific programs. 



The New York Bight study investigated near-bottom sediment dispersal 

 processes, using a small survey submersible. The objective was to increase 

 understanding of solid waste and residual aggregates in support of more 

 efTective waste-disposal planning. Off the New England coast, the first phase 

 of a submersible-centered study of herring, lobster, and other resource 

 recruitment discovered lobster colonies in unexpected locations and shrimp 

 beds with commercial potential. 



The New York Bight pollution and waste dispersal studies will be extended 

 to the 5,000- to 6,000-foot level into deep submarine canyons. On the west 

 coast and in the Gulf of Mexico, submersibles will be used in similar studies 

 to assess the long-term effects of toxic dumping sites on the marine environ- 

 ment and the effect of pollution on living resources. Additional living 

 resource studies will be conducted in the coming year in the Gulf of Maine 

 to follow up the initial lobster and herring findings. This program will employ 

 for the first time a diver lockout submersible which permits scientists to enter ' 

 the water while the vehicle is submerged. 



An investigation of the Pacific walrus from a small research submersible 

 was conducted in the Bering Sea early in 1972 as a demonstration project of 

 the Marine Mammals Prograrri for the U.S. International Biological Pro- 

 gram. It was supported jointly by the Navy, NSF, and NOAA. 



A Bahama Banks project, started in 1971, combined a small habitat and 

 submersibles in investigations of marine biology and important geological 

 features. This project revealed a deeply submerged terrace near Nassau, 

 Bahamas, that correlated well with the worldwide distribution of lowered 

 sea floor. Other studies in the Bahama Banks provided new data on the 

 effectiveness of fishtraps and the behavior of selected species. These latter 

 studies are being correlated with similar efforts in the Caribbean and along 

 coastal regions of the U.S. Northwest and Florida. A geological study in the 

 Straits of Florida in November 1971 used small survey submersibles to meas- 

 ure mass physical properties of sediment dispersal, currents, and "karst" 

 topographical features. 



The FLARE (Florida Aquanaut Research Expedition) seeks to improve 

 our basic understanding of reef ecology and human impact in the Straits of 

 Florida. Submersibles and a small portable survey habitat were used in 



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