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ocean. Actxial expenditures ty the AEC for parts of our 

 recoinmerded research program differ somewhat from our 

 recommendations. This is to be expected. In new research 

 prograiris rates of development should depend upon the avail- 

 ability and interests of competent scientists. 



G. Ocean Resources- 

 There appears to be increasing awareness aiaong 

 agencies concerned with marine resources, of the need for 

 long-term basic research to enlarge knov.'ledge of the 

 existing and potential resources of the sea. Hov/ever, an 

 inordinately large share of funds has been devoted to 

 short-term studies for im.-nediate Mpplice.tion, to the neg- 

 lect of longer-term, more f undaner tal studies upon which 

 future applirations must be based. Such studies, designed 

 to give sn adequate understanding cf the occurrence, 

 behavior and potential harvest of fish and other marine 

 organisms are essential to extensive economic development 

 a^d utilization ox: marine biological resources. 



In reviewing and assessing recent progress toward 

 greater understanding of the reso'-rces in the sea, we find 

 that: 



1. In a number of government laboratories there are 



prograias of study on particular fish and shellfish 

 species of commercial importance. These laboratories 

 sliould give more attention to broadly-based, compre- 

 hensive studies of marine coinipunit j es and their inter- 

 relatioiiPhips if the goal of enlarging our kiiov.'ledge 

 of potential resources is to be achieved. Although 

 some government laboratories are nov/ orienting some 

 of their research in this direction, the effort should 

 be expanded and correlated with investigations under- 

 way at university marine stacions. 



■Comments in this section apply to our Chapters 1 and 3 

 and mainly to the programs of the BCF. 



