economic reserve nor the patience to wait indefinitely. These matters must 

 be pressed with more urgency than has been true in the past. 



Proper enforcement is one of the keys to conservation of the world 

 resource. It becomes less problematical as recognition grows of the danger 

 to the resource. On the national stage this time has apparently come. We 

 must press for it ocean-wide. 



Pace and Direction 



NACOA strongly recommends : 



(1) Passage of the High Seas Fisheries Bills such as HR 4760 and 

 S 1069 which would assist both Federal and international good 

 fisheries management. 



(2) Development of a national plan by the Secretaries of Commerce 

 and Interior for the use of the national fishery resources. 



(3) International agreements incorporating mechanisms for the con- 

 servation of stocks upon which United States fishermen depend, 

 and greater awareness of the problem of international enforcement. 



(4) Continued support of the species approach in the coming Law of 

 the Sea Conference. 



What NACOA finds lacking is pace, more than direction. Some of the 

 right things are being done, but only some and not quickly enough. Coastal 

 matters are being worked out, but only at a snail's pace. International 

 matters are being worked out, but as if avoidance of conflict were itself 

 a victory. Meanwhile the fish stocks slip, the young men go into other 

 work, and as a Nation we import most of the fish we eat. What we do 

 have to find out is whether we will or will not do something about it. 



44 



