Comments On Programs 
and Studies 
In this chapter NACOA notes, and in some instances discusses in detail: 
© The need for modification and improvements in the National Coastal Zone 
Management Act of 1972; 
e@ The National Fisheries Plan; 
@ Weather modification and food; 
e Studies of capital structure for R&D in oceanic and atmospheric programs; 
@ The Ocean Engineering Study; 
® The need of the Coast Guard for additional support so that it can fulfill its 
rapidly expanding statutory and executive assignments; and 
@ The unfortunate slackening of the Navy’s vital role in oceanographic re- 
search. 
In the thirty-odd months of our existence we have made recommenda- 
tions in several critical areas of oceanic and atmospheric affairs. Outstand- 
ing among our interests has been the coastal zone. As stated below, we 
find that progress is being made in improved coastal zone management, 
though we have further suggestions—and make them. A second area of 
major interest to us has been the condition of U.S. fisheries. In this 
instance we note merely the status of a comprehensive National Fisheries 
Plan now under development. Weather modification is the third subject 
we have treated in each of our reports. We comment briefly on its connec- 
tion with food production. 
More recently, NACOA stimulated studies on the health of the capital 
programs for oceanic and atmospheric science and engineering, and on 
national needs for ocean engineering and the relative roles government 
and industry should play in such undertakings. We note that compre- 
hensive reviews of capital structure are being undertaken by the Federal 
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