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Chapter 4 Marine Resources 



Interest in marine affairs ha's been height- 

 ened by our increasing scientific and techni- 

 cal capability to gain new wealth from the 

 sea. However, attention to marine resources 

 cannot be viewed in isolation from competi- 

 tive resources. Policies should be directed to 

 assuring tliat there is no critical shortage of 

 any raw material and advancing economic 

 efficiency in the production and use of both 

 marine and nonmarine resources. 



Economic uses of the sea are primarily a 

 responsibility of the private sector. There is, 

 nevertheless, a large role for government to 



assist industry in expanding the scope and 

 scale of marine operations. Government bears 

 a responsibility for establisliing a framework 

 of domestic law to undergird our private en- 

 terprise system. Further, the Commission 

 recognizes that the U.S. interest in marine 

 resource development must be viewed in 

 terms of world needs and capabilities. The 

 Commission has therefore considered both 

 the national and international economic and 

 legal status of fisheries, oil, gas, and hard 

 minerals industries and has made a number of 

 recommendations for changes in national and 

 international policies and law. 



Recommendations 



Action through 



Page 

 Ref. 



Living Resources 



Continue research on fish stocks and yields, cooperate 

 with other nations in such programs, and explore new 

 techniques for rapid stock assessment Admin. 



Aim fisheries management at largest net economic return 



consistent with biological capabilities of fisheries stock . All levels 



Improve economic return through curtailing excess fishing 



effort All levels 



Establish national priorities and policies for migratory 



marine species (NOAA/BCF) Admin. 



Authorize NOAA/BCF to assume regulation of endan- 

 gered fisheries under specified circumstances Leg. 



Remove restrictions on use of foreign-built fishing vessels 



and equipment Leg. 



Analyze each major fishery and develop program for ex- 

 ploitation (NOAA/BCF) Admin. 



Develop rapid means for stock assessment, conduct sur- 

 veys and exploratory fishing, and support basic 

 studies (NOAA/BCF) Admin. 



Develop expanded program for fishing technology (NO AA/ 



BCF) Admin. 



Establish extension services to assist fishermen Leg./Admin. 



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