levels. Its decision to support graduate-level 

 marine education in the social sciences that 

 may contribute to an understanding of ma- 

 rine affairs is sound, but lack of funds has 

 made it difficult to implement the decision. 



The Commission recommends that the 

 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agen- 

 cy (National Sea Grant Program) expand 

 its support for ocean engineering and 

 marine technician training at all levels 

 and that it aid selected universities in or- 

 ganizing graduate-level education in the 

 application of social sciences to marine 

 affairs, 



Tlie Commission appreciates that its pro- 

 posed national effort will require large num- 

 bers of well-educated, well-trained people. 

 The majority view among those whom the 

 Commission has consulted on manpower 

 problems is that an exciting, broad-scale ma- 

 rine program will generate its o"wn personnel. 

 The personnel will come principally through 

 transfer from land-based scientific, engineer- 

 ing, and technical specialties, but also 

 through increased enrollments in marine edu- 

 cation and training programs. 



The Commission does not imply that sup- 

 port for ocean-related education and train- 

 ing is unnecessary — only that it may be un- 

 wise to tailor large new education and train- 

 ing programs to our present limited percep- 

 tion of future needs. Certainly some pro- 

 grams to extend the national capability for 

 production of manpower are required, and 

 such capability should be expanded or 

 created. Rut until it is possible to develop a 

 better conception of future manpower needs, 

 care must be taken not to overproduce man- 

 power, particularly in fields in which transfer 

 from land to sea activities is relatively simple. 



Information and the National Capability 



Information useful in improving the na- 

 tional capability in the sea is developed by 

 all elements of the marine community. But 

 productive communications channels do not 

 exist between the Government and the pri- 

 vate sector, between scientists and engineers 

 within the private sector, or between all these 

 groups and the working harvesters of the sea. 



A multitude of mechanisms for dissemi- 

 nating infonnation is required — nationally, 

 regionally, and locally. For example, the pro- 

 duction and continued updating of engineer- 

 ing handbooks, data compilations, textbooks, 

 and similar working publications is a primary 

 need. 



Such central activities should be comple- 

 mented by field activities designed to facil- 

 itate the transfer of technical information to 

 industry users, particularly in such indus- 

 tries as fishing, as noted further in Chapter 

 4, where there are a large number of small 

 imits lacking significant research and devel- 

 opment capability. 



The Commission recommends that the 

 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agen- 

 cy establish a strong scientific and tech- 

 nical information and extension program 

 to meet industry and other civil needs. 



Costs for National Capability* 



An adequate base of fundamental science 

 and technology backed by the necessaiy man- 

 power and facilities is the cornerstone of the 

 Nation's future activities in the sea. In basic 

 science, the Commission is concerned to en- 

 sure adequate support for the Federal, Coast- 

 al Zone, and University-National Labora- 

 tories as well as other research facilities. Ta- 



• The cost estimates presented in this and subsequent 

 chapters are subject to certain definitions and limita- 

 tions discussed in Chapter 8. 



