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phasis will be on high value species for the 

 quality market m the United States. How- 

 ever, as knowledge and technique improve, 

 it should be possible to develop means for 

 high volume production of lower valued spe- 

 cies, suitable both for table use and for 

 processing into new food forms in which pro- 

 tein content is the dominant element. Fish 

 protein concentrate is only one of several 

 possibilities. 



To cultivate marine organisms, brackish 

 or saline water is needed. This means that a 

 major aquaculture program must have avail- 

 able estuarine and shore areas to a greater ex- 

 tent than is possible under most present State 

 laws and regulations. States vary widely in 

 their sea-bottom leasing or rental practices, 

 and in many States exclusive use of water 

 areas is not permitted. To many qualified ob- 

 servers, it is these legal and institutional 

 problems which are the greatest barrier to a 

 viable commercial aquaculture program in 

 the United States today. When decisions are 

 made on how the coastal zone is to be used, 

 aquaculture must be given appropriate 

 weight as a contributor to the economy. 



The Commission recognizes the high po- 

 tential for user conflict. Established interests, 

 including commercial and sport fishing, rec- 

 reation, conservation, and navigation, tend 

 to regard aquaculture as an interloper that 

 may interfere with traditional activities. 

 Often the conflict is based more on emotion 

 than on reason. The Commission has noted 

 several cases in which aquacultural invest- 

 ment was thwarted on legal or political 

 grounds, although the conflicts of use were 

 minimal, and only an infinitesimal fraction 

 of the available water area was involved. 

 Aquaculture in the open ocean appears pos- 

 sible for the future and raises the problem of 

 how exclusive commercial rights may be 



obtained. The Federal Government should 

 examine the various considerations involved. 



The Commission recommends that : 



• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

 Agency (BCF) be given the explicit 

 mission to advance aquaculture 



• NOAA (BCF) assist and encourage 

 States through the Coastal Zone Au- 

 thorities to remove the legal and insti- 

 tutional barriers that may exist in 

 individual States and that inhibit 

 aquaculture 



• NOAA (BCF and Sea Grant) support 

 more research on all aspects of aqua- 

 culture, economic and social as well as 

 technical. 



Sea Plants 



Sea plants already have proven of value 

 as a source of chemicals. Potash and iodine 

 were extracted from seaweed for many years 

 before other sources were developed. In re- 

 cent years, hydrocolloids known as cara- 

 geenans and algins have made possible many 

 convenience foods and have served as 

 homogenizing and smoothing agents in 

 toothpastes, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. 

 Industrial applications include ink, paint, 

 and tire production. In fact, the use of ma- 

 rine colloids is so widespread that the supply 

 of raw material has become a problem and 

 the artificial culture of highly productive 

 seaweeds is indicated. 



Research has shown that marine plants 

 also contain useful fractions of many other 

 chemicals, including vegetable oils, chelating 

 agents, and vegetable proteins. It is highly 

 probable that, as marine biological research 

 continues, unanticipated uses of marine plant 

 organisms will be found. Agencies funding 

 such research should be alert to new possi- 

 bilities and make every effort to ensure that 

 results are communicated fully and quickly. 



