14 



financial and other difficulties might be assisted by new Federal legis- 

 lation or improved administration of existing laws and programs. 



3. REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL FISHERIES PLAN 



The National Marine Fisheries Service of the Department of Com- 

 merce is in the process of preparing a comprehensive National Fisheries 

 Plan. A preliminary report, 1 for review purposes only, was circulated to 

 interested parties in the latter part of 1974. After comments are re- 

 ceived from reviewers and the plan completed, the final version will be 

 published in early 1975. 



The goals which the National Fisheries Plan are to address are the 

 following : 



— Restore and maintain fishstocks of interest to the United States; 



— Develop and maintain a healthy commercial and recreational fish- 

 ing industry ; 



— Improve the contribution of marine resources to recreation and 

 other social benefits ; and 



— Increase the supply of wholesome, competitively priced fisheries 

 products to the consumer. 

 These goals also represent the special competence and interests of 

 NOPS. NOPS will review the National Fisheries Plan in depth 

 and also hold hearings to examine specific aspects of the Plan which 

 represent special national problems or areas of legislative concern 

 which are particularly amenable to legislative redress at this time. 



NOPS, with the assistance of the CRS, OTA and GAO, will provide 

 preliminary background materials and analyses to help the Committee 

 evaluate the National Fisheries Plan, to examine ways in which fisher- 

 ies management can be improved, and to formulate necessary legisla- 

 ture remedies. 



4. HEARINGS TO CONSIDER A NATIONAL PROGRAM IN AQUACULTURE 



Legislation was introduced in the 93d Congress to provide for a na- 

 tional program for aquaculture development. 2 The planned cultivation 

 and harvest of marine resources is becoming an increasingly important 

 aspect of the development of national marine fisheries in light of the 

 increasing world demand for food from the oceans and the overfishing 

 of and damage to some of the world's best marine fishing stocks. 



While aquaculture 3 is currently being practised to some extent, it is 

 apparent that a great deal more scientific and technical support, and 

 more information, is required if the industry is to make a significant 

 contribution to national fishery production. 



The Committee, probably during the second session, plans to examine 

 what contribution the Federal Government can make to the develop- 

 ment of a viable national aquaculture industry. 4 



i U.S. Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service, A Draft Outline for 

 the National Fisheries Plan, Washington, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Marine 

 Fisheries Service. An gust 1974. 



a H.R. 12518, the National Aquaculture Development Act of 1974. 



3 "Aquaculture" In the context of this paper includes the term "marlculture". 



*The National Fisheries Plan (see Subsection 3, above) will consider what Federal 

 actions may be required to assist in the development of a national aquaculture capability, 

 specifically in regard to salmon, oysters, shrimp, lobster, other mollusks, other marine 

 species, and freshwater species. 



