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Policy Study, (2) the basic issues involved in the Nation's international 

 ocean relations, (3) the ways in which national economic security and 

 international ocean relations represent conflicting national goals, and 

 (4) how a balanced national ocean policy could contribute to improv- 

 ing both national economic security and international ocean relations. 



The purpose of this study would be to quantify in some way and to 

 make explicit the importance of national ocean policy to the Nation. 

 Hopefully, the study would also set the tone and benchmarks for the 

 conduct of the National Ocean Policy Study and in this sense it could 

 be thought of as the basic philosophical document for the entire 

 NOPS program. 



The final part of the study would be the preparation of draft policy 

 alternatives to assist the Committee in the conduct of the National 

 Ocean Policy Study. 



3. EVALUATION OF THE NATIONAL SEA GRANT PROGRAM AND THE 

 INTERNATIONAL DECADE OF OCEAN EXPLORATION 



The National Sea Grant College Program was established by Con- 

 gressional initiative in 19G6. Based on the extraordinary success of our 

 land grant college system in developing the agricultural resources of 

 the Nation, the Sea Grant College Program was designed to apply 

 the same system of education, applied research, and extension and ad- 

 visory services to the development of our marine resources. 



Although appropriations for the program haye lagged far behind 

 the levels authorized by the Congress, the program has been a major 

 factor in developing and strengthening centers of oceanographie and 

 marine competence at universities and non-profit institutions in 20 

 states. 



The Sea Grant Act was broadly written by the Congress to avoid 

 narrow categorical approaches to marine resource development and to 

 emphasize cohesive, multi-disciplinary approaches to development of 

 marine resources. It has contributed substantially to a restructuring 

 of university marine programs in order to focus them more effectively 

 on ocean and coastal zone resource problems. 



Although the Sea Grant Program was established before environ- 

 mental concerns, coastal zone management, and energy problems 

 emerged as ocean program considerations in the IDTO's, a major por- 

 tion of current Sea Grant supported work is devoted to these impor- 

 tant areas. In some states, Sea Grant institutions have become either 

 the officially designated or do facto research centers for state coastal 

 zone management programs. 



As the Sea Grant College Program approaches its tenth anniversary. 

 it may be timely to consider a full evaluation of the program, and to 

 determine how it may be strengthened. Among the questions that might 

 be considered in such an evaluation are the following : 



(1) How effective have the Sea Grant Program and the Sea Grant 

 institutions been in responding to the changing national needs by pro- 

 viding information, education, and advisory services required to deal 

 with environmental and energy problems. An important facet of this 

 question is how the Sea Grant College Program relates to and works 

 with the Coastal Zone Management Program within NOAA. and the' 

 relationship of the Sea Grant institutions in the field to the develop- 

 ment of state plans. 



