903 
Investments in the expansion of sports 
fiching offer much quicker and larger returns 
to the Region than do comparable investments 
‘in commercial fishing. The amount spent in 
the Repion by over a million sports fisherman 
already far exceeds the combined income of 
‘all the Region's conmercial fisherman, and 
sports fishing: in the Region can be sipnificant- 
ly increased. The Commission's programs in 
Transportation and Commercial Tourism as 
well as its efforts in Research and Develop- 
ment and Land and Water Use Planning should 
foster and facilitate this expansion. 
“ports fishing is only one of several 
forms of occan recreation. SuW-bathing and 
swimming, beach-combing and boating pro- 
vide pleasures which are sought by millions in 
the Midwest and Northeast. Most of the bays 
and sounds, the beaches and off-shore islands 
of the Carolinas and Georgia are uncrowded 
even at the peak of season. They are largely 
unknown. Millions of Amcricans know where 
Cape Cod is, but few could place Nags Head. 
The Coastal Plains Region will eventually 
become the Nation's nlayground. Its location 
is strategic. It nw +) develop quality at- 
tractions and to promote the Region as a 
tourist destination. The Commission has been 
assisting potential investors through the 
feasibility studies and investment seminars, 
which were mentioned earlier in connection 
with the Commercial Tourism Program. 
There are seven ocean ports and sever- 
al river ports in the Coastal Plains Region. 
These facilities have expanded significantly in 
the past few years. The Commission will help 
the State port authorities plan the accelerated 
expansion which progress in the Commission's 
Industrial Development and Transportation 
Programs will require. Port facilities and 
services represent an important element of the 
Region's economic infrastructure. Economic 
development both depends upon and demands 
their expansion. They are an excellent exampl 
of a self-amortizing public investment in 
economic development. © 
The Advisory Committee has recom- 
mended and the Commission has agreed to 
place the main emphasia of the Marine Re. 
sources Program on Research and DeveJop- 
ment. Five purposes of this effort have been 
identified: 
(a) Enhancfling the state's ability to man i 
age its common property resources, 
0 Enabling the residents of the state to 
engage in marine enlerprises more 
productively and profitably, 
o Strengthening the ability of the state 
to attract high-technology industries, 
o Enabling the. state and its residents to 
compete more successfully tor Fed- 
eral marine research and development 
contracts and grants, and 
o Enabling the state and its residents to 
better understand and utilize its ma- 
rine resources, 
In each state numerous laws and repu- 
lations govern ishing awd Abavag > Yet Prose. 
laws lack a sound scientific basis. No one is 
sure whether these codes serve the public in- 
tereat or simply discourage mineral] explora- 
tion and modern fishing. Academic institu- 
tions and public agencies in the states are 
improving their capability to perform necded 
research, and the Commission intends to 
help them. 
Technological advances are worth ble 
until they are exploited by entrepreneurs. 
The states are expanding existing extension 
services and creating new services where 
necessary. The Commission intends, to help 
hem. 
The Commission's Industrial Developmen 
Program is designed to attract high techno- 
logy industry. The Region offers more than 
level land and ample ground water. It has 
almost 600 miles of coastline and 3 million 
acres of estuarics. It has over 30,000 square 
miles of continental shelf, and it is adjacent 
to the Blake Plateau. 
The Commission intends to promote the 
creation or research and devclopment centers 
