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aJso been a threat to human life as a focus for war and through its encroach- 

 ment onto land. In recent decades, the United Slates has been the world 

 leader in ocean research, both in basic studies and research on the ocean's 

 particular influence on human activities. This pioneering work has largely 

 been the result of remarkably successful partnerships between federal agencies 

 and re«arch in universities, in which federal agencies support the research of 

 academic scientists and academic scientists provide advice on internal and 

 external research by a variety of mechanisms. 



However, the world in which these partnerships were created and 

 sustained is changing rapidly. Concerns about the ocean as a medium for 

 warfare and as a threat to our national security are decreasing while 

 environmental problems of the coastal zone and understanding how the ocean 

 controls climate are of increasing importance. 



I echo these sentiments by strongly emphasizing the need for a sustained effort to 

 understand the role of the ocean in human activities, recognizing the continually changing 

 challenges facing society and the ocean science community. For example, U.S. and world 

 fisheries are an increasing concern; since 1988 the total world harvest of marine fish has 

 plateaued and the stocks of many commercial species in U.S. waters are fully utilized or 

 overutilized. Continued efforts on the part of some fishing countries to maintain or even 

 increase their total catch has exerted tremendous pressure on vinually all commercial fish 



