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ECFF/ Navy War College 22 Jan 96 Page 4 



This is even more true for the deep water The National Marine Fisheries Service has always 

 concentrated its research in waters less than 120 fathoms, about 700 feet, because that's where 

 the commercial fisheries took place But now we are fishing at depths of 500 fathoms and 

 going deeper, perhaps to 1000 fathoms before the year is out We know almost nothing about 

 the great depths and their fishery potentials and vulnerabilities If we are to safely and 

 profitably use those resources, we need to get as much information about them as fast as we 

 can. 



The partnership between the Department of Defense and fishery managers is not as strange as 

 one might first think. One of the chief reasons that countries all over the world declared 

 exclusive economic zones was the realization that fish is a strategic resource. The United 

 States has, within its maritime borders, about 20% of the world's fisher,' resources; and since 

 fish is about a quarter of the world's animal protein, that resource is of enormous political as 

 well as economic importance. It needs to be defended, which is the job of the Defense 

 Department. Defended, incidentally, both fi^om specific threats and from our own ignorance 

 and sometimes even oui good intentions. If this partnership can produce intelligence about the 

 fisheries, count on us, the troops, to use it well. 



Thank you 



