429 



Isolation, purification, and chemical characterization and proof of struc- 

 ture of the toxins, beginning with the well known ciguatera toxin widely 

 found in reef fishes. 



Biological and ecological investigation of the food chains producing marine 

 toxins. 



Pharmacological study of the effects of the toxins. 



Development of a practical and analytical method for determining presence 

 of toxins in fish and fish concentrates. 

 Part of the initial effort should be related to the ability of current processes for 

 extracting FPC to eliminate any toxins which may be present in the raw fish. 



I do not wish to leave the impression that the assurance of healthfulness of 

 FPC — or even the healthfulness of fish supplies in general — is the sole justifica- 

 tion for increased work in marine toxicology. We have high hopes that the 

 specific toxins and other substances to be isolated from marine life will be phar- 

 macologically useful and that some of them may eventually have regular clinical 

 uses — as have other substances occurring in nature such as coumarin and ergot. 

 These substances were first identified as poisons, but further observation on 

 their mechanisms of action led to their exploitation for special punposes in clini- 

 cal medicine, using small amounts. We can expect, similarly, that some of the 

 toxins in marine organisms will 'be studied pharmacologically and may be found 

 especially useful either in clinical medicine or biomedical research. 



Since a number of marine toxins are considered to be concentrated in the 

 food chain, or associated with the seasonal occurrence of certain types of 

 protozoa or other plankton, we are now engaged In ascertaining how much 

 work has been done on the cultivation of these organisms and in how addi- 

 tional research can be fostered if necessary. This is especially appropriate in 

 relation to aqua-culture proposals. It may also afford us with relatively easy 

 methods for harvesting toxins for further research. As I mentioned earlier, 

 substances taken from marine organisms occupied considerable attention at the 

 international symposium. 



Mt. Chairman, this concludes my prepared statement. I shall be happy to 

 respond to questions. 



Dr. Jacobs. The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare 

 has only one line item m the budget which directly relates to marine 

 science and this regards shellfish sanitation. But we have a large 

 number of other programs which do relate to it in various ways : We 

 are involved in marine pharmacology and toxicology. The toxicol- 

 ogy is princially in relation to poisons which occur in shellfish and 

 in other types of marine life, reef fishes and so on, which we anticipate 

 may eventually be used for fish protein concentrate. These toxins must 

 be identified, and ways found to control them, to identify them in 

 products, and in this manner m.ake sure that the health of the people 

 who are going to consume these products will be assured. 



We also have programs in which marine organisms are used for 

 biomedical research. There is a very diverse list of such organisms 

 and a very diverse list of projects in which these organisms are used. 



The development of knowledge about toxins and about other sub- 

 stances in marine organisms will undoubtedly prove vakiable just as 

 in the case of various forms of plant extracts from which we were 

 able to develop drugs which became very useful in clinical medicine. 

 We hope to do exploration in this area. 



These are programs concerning health. Now, the Office of Education 

 also has programs which are not specifically identified as marine science 

 programs, but nevertheless do contribute in various ways to the devel- 

 opment of oceanography. There are grants for the establishment of 

 educational projects in marine science in the elementary and secondary 

 schools. There are fellovrships for the study of oceanography in gradu- 

 ate schools which supplement to some extent the National Science 

 Foundation sea-grant college program. 



