m 



Do you know what this task force is ? 



Admiral Waters. Unless they are referring to the President's Com- 

 mission or perhaps the National Council staff. 



Mr. Eeinecke. The reason I ask that, we have had some bitter experi- 

 ence on one other task force before this committee and we are won- 

 dering if there is another task force. 



Admiral Waters. Not that I know of. Of course, the National Coun- 

 cil staff and the Oonmiission keep up pretty busy these days obtaining 

 information. 



Mr. Keinecke. Thank you very much, Admiral. It is a fine statement. 

 We are grateful to have you here. 



Mr. Lennon. Off the record. 



(Off the record.) 



Mr. Lennon. Mr. Keith? 



Mr. Keith. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



I regret I could not be here in time to hear your testimony. Admiral, 

 nor was I able to hear Dr. Wenk in toto. I do have a question on the 

 resolution which I will waive for the later executive session. 



I would like first to ask you if you have any comments concerning 

 the wisdom of es/ ablishing marine sanctuaries to inliibit widespread 

 exploitation of the ocean bed mineral resources which might in any 

 way adversely affect fishing resources or recreational values. In other 

 words, is it possible to establish some kind of undersea zoning, perhaps 

 similar to the wilderness concept ? 



Would there be some advantages flowing from such a policy ? 



Admiral Waters. Yes, sir; I think so. I certainly think that the 

 shotgun approach should be avoided in either designating areas for 

 exploitation or in establishing preserves, and that there should be some 

 body of knowledgeable opinion who could pick the location. I think 

 there is a need for it. 



As you have indicated, we all recognize there are going to be conflicts 

 between the various industries, recreation, and mamtaining inviolate a 

 sort of naturally preserved wilderness where the undisturbed flora and 

 fauna and the physical characteristics can be continuously studied. 

 There is a need for this. I agree with you it should be very carefully 

 considered. 



Mr. Keith. Would you not agree in the absence of such policy that 

 anybody prospecting for oil in that area would feel they had the right 

 to develop whatever their research turned up, if they discover in the 

 midst of some fishing grounds some mineral resources ? 



Admiral Waters. Yes. 



Mr. Keith. One rather specialized question, representing as I do 

 Woods Hole, the home port of the Almn. 



Mr. Downing. Would you explain that? 



Mr. Keith. I do not think it needs an explanation to anybody on 

 this committee, but it could be. I think it important for the members 

 of the subcommittee to be aware of the present level of technology 

 in the field of oceanography, and I think we must view the current 

 state of technology in a broad sense, but I would like to have Admiral 

 Waters comment on this. 



Let us assume we have an officer in command of our most modern 

 vessel for oceanographic research and he has available to him all the 

 support that we can give him, and he finds an object on the ocean 



