S9 



enforcement are clearly State responsibilities. 

 The lalxjratories will be able to assist the 

 States to plan and manage their coastal zones 

 effectively. 



The activities of the Coastal Zone Labora- 

 tories outlined here and in Chapter 3 fall 

 within the kinds of programs envisaged for 

 the Sea Grant Colleges authorized in the 

 National Sea Grant College and Program 

 Act of 1966. The Sea Grant Program is an 

 excellent vehicle for establishing and sup- 

 porting the proposed Coastal Zone Labora- 

 tories. However, this will require amend- 

 ment of the Act to allow funds to be used for 

 construction of facilities and for ship sup- 

 port, both of which are excluded at present. 



The Commission recommends that Coastal 

 Zone Laboratories be established in asso- 

 ciation with appropriate academic institu- 

 tions to engage in the scientific investiga- 

 tion of estuarine and coastal processes 

 and to be prepared to advise the States 

 in managing the estuaries and Coastal 

 Zones. 



The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

 Agency (National Sea Grant Program) 

 should have the prime responsibility to 

 provide institutional support for the 

 Coastal Zone Laboratories. The Sea Grant 

 College and Program Act of 1966 should 

 be amended to permit grants for the con- 

 struction and maintenance of vessels and 

 other facilities. 



Centers for Marine Science: 

 Federal Laboratories 



Most Federal agencies concerned with the 

 marine environment maintain laboratory fa- 

 cilities of their own. "While these labora- 

 tories conduct research primarily related to 

 the missions of the agencies, they also engage 



in basic research. This is essential if the lab- 

 oratories are to respond to future oppor- 

 tunities as well as present mission needs and 

 if they are to attract and hold highly com- 

 petent scientific staffs. 



In recent years, Federal marine-oriented 

 laboratories have been located near univer- 

 sities with strong marine programs. In fact 

 tliis is a statutory requirement for the 

 Federal Water Pollution Control Adminis- 

 tration. Active cooperation between the uni- 

 \-ersity and Federal laboratory usually has 

 resulted, to the benefit of both. Such location 

 and cooperation, of course, should be en- 

 couraged further. 



A major deficiency in the organization of 

 the present Federal in-house laboratories of 

 tlie civil agencies supporting marine pro- 

 grams is that many of the laboratories are 

 too small to mount effective programs. A 

 consolidation of such laboratories into a 

 small number of stronger centers would per- 

 mit bringing together resources at a scale 

 needed for high quality research programs. 



The Commission recommends that Fed- 

 eral marine science laboratories be 

 strengthened by adequate funding and 

 staffing. Selective consolidation of mar- 

 ginal laboratories is one way of achieving 

 this purpose; however, it should be re- 

 membered that effectiveness is not neces- 

 sarily a function of size. 



Naval Research 



The Government assigns a high priority to 

 the military applications of marine science. 

 This is to be expected. Basic marine science 

 has been of the utmost importance in building 

 the U.S. Navy's capabilities for defense and 

 deterrence. The interests of the Office of 

 Naval Research (ONR), which is responsible 

 for the Navy's basic research effort, have been 



