35 



The entire technology for fisheries and 

 aquaculture remains reUitively primitive in 

 terms of its potential. Except for develop- 

 ments to meet Navy requirements, this is 

 true also of the field of marine instruments 

 for measuring, monitoring, locating, and data 

 transmitting. Teclniological development to 

 improve recreational ojjportunities and fa- 

 cilities generally has been neglected except 

 where there is a direct buyer-seller relation- 

 ship, as in boating, sport fishing, and sport 

 diving equipment. ^larine hard mineral re- 

 covery techniques have been essentially ex- 

 tensions of shallow water dredging methods 

 with few real innovations. The highly ad- 

 vanced food technology methods used in the 

 transportation, packaging, and processing 

 of fresh agricultural products have not been 

 sufficiently applied to fresh seafoods, and 

 manual processing methods continue to 

 luindicap gro\vth in some seafood industries. 



The Commission finds that the present na- 

 tional capability in marine technology, while 

 substantial in some fields, is not broad enough 

 to support an expanded national effort in the 

 sea. 



In considering how the situation can best 

 be remedied, the Commission has adopted the 

 premise that capability in marine technology' 

 must be structured principally on the existing 

 industrial base, but with Federal support and 

 greatly increased participation by the aca- 

 demic community. 



Fundamental Technology 



The value of Government support of scien- 

 tific research is generally acknowledged, even 

 if its only immediate aim is to increase man's 

 understanding of his world. Yet technological 

 development traditionally has been sui)ported 

 oidy to solve cle^irly definetl problems or to 

 meet known needs. Nevertheless, a parallel 

 can be drawn between basic scientific research 

 and the more fundamental aspects of engi- 



neering science and tecltnology. Both serve 

 to advance the overall national capability to 

 undei-stand and use the total environment, 

 and both provide a base from which may 

 spring many forseen and unforseen appli- 

 cations. 



The Commission does not suggest that fun- 

 damental technology should be supported 

 purely for its own sake, but it should be sup- 

 ported to provide the Nation with a broad 

 spectrum of expertise, instruments, and facil- 

 ities to undertake the tasks which may prove 

 necessary to effective use of the sea. 



The Commission's concept of the difference 

 between fimdamental and applied technology 

 is best illustrated by examples. 



The problem of materials is basic to all 

 activities in the sea, whether on or under the 

 surface. Salt water is an inliospitable medium 

 for most of man's materials; yet marine ac- 

 tivities presently depend greatly on materials 

 develojied for use on land and in the air. Im- 

 proved materials technology would result in 

 lower costs for construction, operation, and 

 maintenance of structures and equipment and 

 greater reliability, efficiency, and safety. En- 

 tirely new engineering methods, now fore- 

 closed by the inadequacy or unsuitability of 

 materials, would become feasible. Therefore, 

 a wide spectnnn of marine activities would 

 be advanced through progi-ess in the funda- 

 mental technology' of materials. 



Underseas operations, whether fixed or 

 mobile, depend on power supplies. Under- 

 water habitats at present are tied to land or to 

 surface power sources. The time approaches 

 rapidly when the umbilical cords to land or 

 the surface must be cut. The undersea imits 

 must become self-sustaining. Deep submer- 

 sible design also is handicapped by lack of 

 light, efficient, economical, long-duration 

 power sources. Power supply technology is 

 fundamental to future development in all 

 undersea activities. 



