1114 
16. The Federal fishery function should pursue a vigorous policy of exploring, 
assessing the extent and establishing the commercial and recreational pos- 
sibilities of harvesting, of the particular living resource on the Continental 
Shelf and slope adjacent to the United States, or available to harvest by 
citizens of the United States on the high seas 
The previous system of dividing the fishery work into technology and biology 
research has been long out moded but not yet discarded. The Federal Fishery 
Function needs to attack problems before it by a systems approach using what- 
ever scientific and technical skills the solution to that particular problem needs 
in a proper mix suited to yielding results, not “in-house” happiness over 
bureaucratic support. 
17. The Federal fishery function must play a much strengthened role in dealing 
with the estuarine problems of the Nation 
The marine aquaculture program must depend largely on the estuarine area 
for its production, and much world living resource production is also dependent 
upon this area. If it cannot be kept free enough from pollution, silting, and 
ecological damage to support the animals forming these resources great damage 
will be done the living aquatic resource base of the nation. 
18. The Federal fishery function, in consultation with the sea-grant college pro- 
gram, should establish an effective mechanism for getting the results of 
science and technology into the hands of the fisherman in timely fashion and 
in forms useful to him 
CONCLUSIONS 
1: The production of fish and shellfish from the world ocean, excluding whales, 
has approximately tripled from 1948 through 1966, coming from about 18 million 
short tons to 53 million short tons (FAO Statistics). Production has continued to 
increase for the past two years at about the same rate, but full statistics are not 
yet available. Total world fish and shellfish production from all waters was 64 
million metric tons in 1968 (FAO). 
2. There is every reason to think that the world market for fish and shellfish 
will continue to increase at about the same rate (about triple the rate of human 
population increase) for the foreseeable future because of the steadily increasing 
demand for high-grade animal protein with increasing affluence, and the pent up 
demand in the developing world. 
3. There is reasonable concensus among world experts that known reserves of 
underutilized resources of the kinds now harvested will permit, on a conserva- 
tive estimate basis, a world-wide production of 200-250 million tons per year on a 
sustainable basis, given rational management of individual resources by appropri- 
ate regulation of fishing effort on them. Thus a continued increase of production to 
a sustainable level 4 to 5 times that presently is had is attainable from known 
resources of the kinds now used. 
4. If technology is improved to harvest economically smaller sized animals 
(in the range of 1 to 5 inches total length) added reserves can be in the range 
of 1,000 to 2,000 million tons per year from wild stock. Additional substantial 
food can be produced from aquaculture, which is already extensively practiced 
with certain kelps, shellfish and fish. 
5. The total value of fish and shellfish production in the world was reckoned 
by FAO to have been $9 billion in 1966 of which about $7.5 billion came from the 
ocean. This is considerably more value than the production of all minerals from 
marine sources (petroleum, gas, and others) which was perhaps as much as $5 
billion in 1966, most of which was fossil fuels. It will be a good many years before 
the value of petroleum and other minerals produced from marine sources equals 
the value of fish and shellfish harvested from the world ocean. 
6. The production of fish and shelifish by United States flag vessels was a 
little more than 2 million short tons in 1967 (BCF statistics). It had been that 
high in 1934 and in that 33 years has never exceeded 2.7 million tons (1962). 
7. The use of fish and shellfish in the United States has increased from 2.9 
million short tons (round weight) in 1948 to 7.1 million‘tons in 1967. The United 
States has thus become one of the largest users of fish and shellfish in the 
world. Having 6% of the world’s population it used more than 12% of the world’s 
production of fish and shellfish. Both total and per capita consumption are rising, 
have been for twenty years, and there is no sign of leveling off. Present per 
capita consumption at 70 pounds per year in 1967 is one of the higher in the 
world, and rate of use in 1968 is above that of 1967. 
