1236 
Dr. William A. Nierenberg, director, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La 
Jolla, Calif. 
Dr. David S. Potter, director of research, AC Electronics Defense Research 
Laboratories, General Motors Corp., Milwaukee, Wis. 
Taylor A. Pryor, president, The Oceanic Foundation, Makapuu Point, Wa- 
imanalo, Oahu, Hawaii. 
Admiral Arthur W. Radford, U.S.N. (Retired), former Chairman Joint Chiefs 
of Staff, Washington, D.C. 
C. M. Shigley, Government affairs department the Dow Chemical Co., Mid 
land, Mich. 
Dr. F. G. Walton Smith, director, Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Sci- 
ences, University of Miami, Miami, Fla. 
Richard C. Vetter, executive secretary, Committee on Oceanography, Na- 
tional Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. 
Dr. James H. Wakelin, Jr., chairman of the board, The Oceanic Foundation, 
Makapuu Point, Waimanalo, Oahu, Hawaii. 
Executive director: Richard N. Rigby, Jr. 
Exuisir II 
STATEMENT ADOPTED BY THE NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY ASSOCIATION BOARD OF 
DIRECTORS AT A MEETING SEPTEMBER 18, 1969 
I. Events since January emphasize the need for a concerted national ocean 
program consisting of maximum private enterprise participation, appropriate 
Federal governmental support (reorganized and better focused through estab- 
lishment of an independent ocean agency), scientific and academic participation 
and increased state-level involvement. 
The damage inflicted by Hurricane Camille in the Gulf of Mexico in August 
points to our inability to predict storm paths with accuracy. 
The unknown impact of waste disposal in the oceans and coastal zones shows 
our need for additional research. 
Recent reports of coral-eating starfish attacking Hawaiian reefs demonstrates 
our imperfect understanding of ocean phenomena. 
Growing public awareness of coastal environmental problems underscores our 
need to act to protect and improve our management of the coastal zone and 
Great Lakes for optimum multiple usage. 
The disappearance of traditional fishing stock, such as haddock from New 
England coasts, points up our need for improved fisheries’ research and 
management. 
Accomplishments this year, in deep-sea drilling, the Northwest Passage ex- 
periment, Project Tektite, the Gulf Stream drift mission and Barbados Ocean- 
ographic and Meteorological Experiment (BOMEX) to cite several, indicate how 
much more we could accomplish with a more concerted industrial, academic and 
governmental effort. 
II. The National Oceanography Association board of directors endorses the 
purpose of H.R. 13247 introduced by Congressman Alton A. Lennon and its 
Senate counterpart, S. 2841, introduced by Senator Ernest F. Hollings, establish- 
ing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) and companion 
National Advisory Committee for Oceans and Atmosphere (NACOA). 
We believe establishment of these bodies are essential steps in developing 
a strong national ocean program which has as a principal objective: “The en- 
couragement of private investment enterprise in exploration, technological de- 
velopment, marine commerce, and economic utilization of the resources of the 
marine environment.” (Sec. 102(a) (3)). We are apprehensive that the language 
of section 104(a), paragraphs (6) and (7), conflicts with this basic objective 
and traditional private enterprise responsibiilty and strongly recommend the 
words “. .. encourage private enterprise to make...” before part (6) and 
“ _ . encourage private enterprise in the... .” before part (7) be inserted as 
amendments to the bills. 
III. The National Oceanography Association board of directors believes a high 
priority for NOAA and NACOA should be the problems of the Nation’s coastal 
zone and shores of the Great Lakes. The goal of managing the optimum multiple 
uses of these national resources 'to accommodate recreational, industrial, trans- 
portation, fishing and other desirable uses is a major challenge for NOAA and 
NACOA. 
