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The great unique use of the estuarine zone, which makes it of pri- 

 mary importance to man and his civilization, is its place in the life 

 cycle of many animals which aid in converting solar energy into more 

 usable forms. While no life form can be singled out as irreplaceable, the 

 kinds of life which need the estuarine zone to survive represent essential 

 links in the energy conversion chain upon which man depends for 

 survival. Many of the human uses of the estuarine zone depend directly 

 or indirectly on the existence of the estuarine zone as a healthy habitat. 



FISHING 



The important fish species are those sought by either the sports 

 fisherman or the commercial fisherman. Practically all of the sports 

 fish species are dependent upon the estuarine zone for one or more 

 phases of their life development, and approximately 65 percent of 

 all commercial fish species are estuarine dependent. 



In 1967 U.S. fishermen received $438 million for approximately 

 4.06 billion pounds of commercial fish and shellfish. It has been esti- 

 mated that two-thirds of the total value, or approximately $300 mil- 

 lion, can be considered for estuarine-dependent species. This is a 

 conservative estimate of the direct value derived from the estuarine 

 fishery for it does not include the value of fish harvested by foreign 

 vessels off the United States coast. Five of the six leading species by 

 weight, representing over one-half of the U.S. commercial fish tonnage 

 in 1967, are estuarme dependent. 



RECREATION 



The demand for outdoor recreation has increased significantly over 

 the past decade. The trend toward higher personal income and more 

 leisure time has made it possible for a greater percentage of the 

 populace to seek new outlets. Companies manufacturing equipment 

 for outdoor recreation have sprung up by the hundreds. 



The advertising industry has campaigned vigorously to sell the 

 public on the need for recreation, and service facilities to support the 

 recreationalist are blossoming in all parts of the country. 



There are a wide variety of land and water recreational activities 

 available in the estuarine zone and many estuarine systems are in- 

 tensively used for recreational pursuits. The unique combination of 

 available resources in close proximity to large population centers offers 

 an unparalleled recreational opportunity for many people who could 

 not afford to travel far from their homes. 



Each type of recreational activity has a certain sensitivity to the 

 quality of the environment in Avhich the activity takes place. Clusters 

 of activities that require similar environmental conditions but differ 

 in environmental quality needs can be grouped as follows: (1) Swim- 

 ming and associated shore activities, including picnicing and camp- 

 ing; (2) sports fishing from shore or small boat; (3) boat-centered 

 activities, such as cruising or water skiing; and (4) esthetic apprecia- 

 tion of the total environment. 



The Nation's estuaries provide the physical, social, and economic 

 conditions required for an effective system of water terminals serving 

 international trade and coastal shipping. According to a 1966 inven- 

 tory of ports and terminals by the Maritime Administration, there 



