166 SEA GR.ANT COLLEGES 



to 9,000 persons engaged full time in the marine sciences. The Soviets have 

 over 1,500 fully qualified oceanographers. The United States has less than 1,000 

 oceanographers. Total marine technology manpower at work full time in this 

 country today numbers less than 3,000 persons. 



The Soviet Union is placing high national priority on ocean tecnology training 

 and application of marine research. The United States, by contrast, has just 

 begun recognizing the importance of this new field. 



The seas represent greater and more immediate economic returns than have 

 yet been founded in outer space. The Interior Department estimates that this 

 Nation's fish catch could be expanded to five or six times its present level — 

 good news for a nation which has allowed its fisheries to slip to fifth place 

 among world fishing nations. The Soviets, who rank fourth, are increasing 

 their fish catch by 500.000 tons per year. They have made fishing a science, 

 have adopted progressive methods such as "fish farming" — transplanting mil- 

 lions of salmon eggs and fingerlings from the Far East to the Bering Sea. 



Each year Americans spend over $.500 million on imported fish products. 

 Every other fish in the American frying pan is imported. By developing scientific 

 methods in marine biology and ocean engineering through sea-grant colleges, this 

 Nation could reach enormous economic benefits from sales of fish at home as 

 well as to hungry and growing populations abroad. 



Further economic returns are to be had for that nation which has the tech- 

 nology to surface precious minerals lying on the ocean floor. Offshore oil drill- 

 ing in 1964 brought in U.S. producers 174 million barrels valued at $541 million. 

 By 1970, U.S. offshore production will be worth about $1.2 billion, or about 

 double what it is today. With increased knowledge, that figure could be even 

 higher. 



Manganese ore has just been discovered off the U.S. coast near the Florida- 

 Georgia State line. This layer has been estimated at 3 to 4 feet thick, and up to 

 1,900 square miles of pavement. Vital to the manufacture of steel and related 

 alloys, as well as dry cell batteries, manganese is of vital importance to the 

 Soviets as well as the United States, which consumes several times as much 

 manganese as it produces. A sea grant college could be instrumental in develop- 

 ing methods of harvesting this mineral. 



A host of other benefits could come from advancing this Nation's ocean 

 technology. Better weather controls, improved antisubmarine warfare, utili- 

 zation of sea vegetation, pollution control, conversion of salt water to fresh, 

 and improved surface shipping are just a few returns to be had for an invest- 

 ment in the oceans which is meager compared to our financial stake in outer 

 space probes. 



Florida has already begun to move in the direction of schooling young minds 

 in the value of the seas. In our State there are four State universities which 

 offer courses in oceanographic and related sciences. One private institution, 

 the University of Miami, maintains the Institiite of Marine Science, one of the 

 finest in the world. Florida Atlantic University, the newest of our State's 

 institutions, offers programs in ocean engineering and other applied uses of the 

 seas. 



Other progressive States boast of such fine institutions as the University of 

 Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography, and the University of Minne- 

 sota's Institute of Technology, whose noted Dean Athelstan Spilhaus has long 

 advocated the concept of sea grant colleges. 



How^ever, more must be done to raise the level and number of oceanographic 

 students and educators in every State if this Nation is to win the wet space race. 

 The ranks of America's qualified oceanographers must grow more rapidly than 

 the present 10 percent per year if we are to outdo Russia's annual expansion of 

 15 percent. This Nation must discover more undersea technology if our national 

 defense is to be maintained against such submarine military operations as may 

 be launched from Soviet bases in Cuba. Sea grant colleges can be a major 

 factor in turning this tide. I urge that S. 2439 be approved by this distinguished 

 subcommittee, its parent committee, and both Houses of the Congress as well. 



Thank you for this opportunity to be heard. 



Senator Pell. Thank you very much. 



Our next witness is Dr. Randal M. Robertson, Associate Director 

 for Research, National Science Foundation. 



