I!) 



The reorganized Federal machinery must 

 liave j)ro\ision for ohtaininc: advice and in- 

 formation from tiie broad national marine 

 connnunity. The Commission recommends 

 estahlislunent of a Presidentially appointed. 

 l)roadiy repivsentative committee to jirovide 

 contiiniing advice in the development of the 

 national marine program. The committee 

 miglit l)e designated the National Advisory 

 Connnittee for the Oceans (NACO). It 

 woidd issue a comprehensive biennial public 

 report, on the status and progress of U.S. 

 marine and atmospheric activities. 



The Connnission also recognizes the need 

 for the (V)ngress to organize its committee 

 activities in a manner which will jjermit 

 gi'eater focus on marine activities, but any 

 reorganization or realignment of Congres- 

 sional committee functions and jurisdictions 

 is for the Congress itself to determine. 



A Time for Decision 



The Nation's stake in the uses of the sea is 

 synonymous with the promise and threat of 

 tomorrow. The promise lies in the economic 

 opportunities the sea oft'exs, in the great stim- 

 ulus to business, industry, and employment 

 that new and expanded sea-related industries 

 can produce. The promise lies also in expand- 

 ing the Nation's horizons, in strengthening 

 its international position and peaceful col- 

 laboration among nations, and in the possi- 

 bility that action today will permit man to 

 make a start toward ultimate control of his 

 planetary environment. The promise lies in 



making available new reserves of important 

 minerals and in ensuring new sources of food. 



The threat lies in the potential destruction 

 of large parts of the coastal environment and 

 in the further deterioration of economically 

 important ports, recreational facilities, 

 coastal shellfisheries, and fisheries on the high 

 seas. There is the threat inherent in any fail- 

 ure by the Nation to utilize successfully its 

 fair share of a major planetary resource; the 

 United States simply cannot afford less than 

 its best effort to utilize the global sea. Finally, 

 there is the threat that unbridled interna- 

 tional competition for the sea's resources may 

 provoke conflict. 



A time of decision is here. Multiple pres- 

 sures force the Nation to turn to the sea, and 

 multiple opportunities await the seaward 

 turning. The time of decision is not for the 

 Federal Government alone, although Federal 

 leadership is essential. State and local gov- 

 ernments, industry, academic institutions, 

 and the American people must share in deci- 

 sion and action. 



The ocean does not yield its food and min- 

 eral treasures easily ; damaged environments 

 are not restored by scattered attacks or the 

 good intentions of a few; the planet's domi- 

 nant element cannot be understood, utilized, 

 enjoyed, or controlled by diffuse and uncoor- 

 dinated efforts. The Nation's stake can only 

 be realized by a determined national effort 

 great enough for the vast and rewarding task 

 ahead. 



