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rearing of aquatic organisms, both plants and animals, under con- 

 trolled condit'ons using the techniques of plant and animal husbandry. 

 It involves a variety of operations, some that are highly sophisticated 

 where man exercises control over the principal environmental factors 

 affecting the cultured species, and others that are very simple with 

 only min'mal control or manipulation of the habitat and the cultured 

 animal. 



Shoreline development 



The use or development of estuarine water either governs or depends 

 on land or shoreline use. 



Commercial development of the shoreline includes loading terminals, 

 docks and shipyards., airports, industrial plants, and the smaller 

 municipal and local piers. Recreational facilities include marinas, 

 beaches, parks, fishing piers, and vacation cottages, motels and hotels. 

 Although the motels and hotels are a commercial venture, their prime 

 purpose is to support the recreationist. Residential development of 

 waterfront property in many communities places on the shoreline in- 

 tensive housing development accompanied by boat docks, fishing 

 and swimming piers, and private beaches. Commercial and personal" 

 transportation requires airports, highways, and commercial port facil- 

 ities. 



Structures built to protect or conserve the shoreline include bulk- 

 heads to hold the shore in place, dikes to prevent flooding and to ex- 

 tend reclaimed land, jetties to provide a protective barrier between 

 the sea and ship channels, and groins along beach areas to control sand 

 movement. 



THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC VALUES OF ESTUARINE TJSE 



All uses have value, both individually and as part of the development 

 and use of the entire estuarine resource for the benefit of the present 

 and future national community. The importance and total value of 

 any estuarine system lay not in the measure of economic value for any 

 particular use, but in multiplicity of use related to the needs of 

 people who live there or otherwise depend on the estuarine resource. 



Fisli (Mid wildlife habitat 



The value of the estuarine zone as fish and wildlife habitat both 

 depends on and augments its value for other uses, particularly recrea- 

 tion and commercial fishing. 



There is, in addition to these, the basic incalculable value of the 

 estuarine habitat as a link in the essential energy-conversion chain 

 which permits man to survive at all. 



The trapping of fur bearers in the marshes of the gulf and Atlantic 

 represents one of the few economic values directly attributable to 

 estuarine habitat. Louisiana is the major producer; in the 1965-66 

 season total sales were $4.6 million out of the Nation's $6 million total. 



C&m/mercial flshkig 



An entire complex of commerce and industry can rest upon one 

 primary producing industry such as commercial fishing. Each time 

 the basic product changes hands it generates economic activity and 

 gains in value until by the time it reaches the ultimate consumer, its 

 price may be many times what the fisherman was paid for it. The 



