will determine the extent and character of the rights and obliga- 

 tions of our Nation and its citizens in the sea and its resources. 

 The effectiveness of our plans to revitalize our national fisheries 

 will determine whether our fishing industry can survive economi- 

 cally. What is perhaps more significant, it will determine whether 

 the fishery resources off our coasts can be maintained in a healthy 

 biological condition so that they may be harvested in perpetuity 

 for the benefit of our and future generations. How we choose to 

 manage our coastal zones will determine whether we can, in the 

 long run, provide for protection of this environment while using 

 it wisely to sustain the Nation's continued economic and industrial 

 growth. The issues of weather modification go directly to the 

 question of whether arid to what extent we will develop and use 

 new technology to manipulate environmental processes in the 

 public interest. More importantly, it raises the question of the 

 nature of the public interest. All of these issues raise basic philo- 

 sophical as well as practical questions. 



I am pleased that the Committee has recognized the important 

 contribution that a strong United States merchant marine can 

 make to our Nation's overall well-being and the impact of President 

 Nixon's actions to revitalize our merchant fleet. Instrumental in 

 this regard was the passage of the President's Merchant Marine 

 Act of 1970 and the efTorts of the Maritime Administration in the 

 Department of Commerce to rebuild our maritime transportation 

 system. I have requested the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for 

 Maritime Affairs to consult with NACOA with respect to its 

 comments and suggestions supporting a strong U. S. Merchant 

 Marine. 



For many of the findings and recommendations of NACOA, 

 policies and programs are presently under study and the views 

 of NACOA are welcomed as valuable contributions in their formu- 

 lation. For others, planning is underway or action is being taken 

 to implement committee recommendations. For a few, the views 

 of the Administration are at variance with those of NACOA. 



I believe that my comments on the NACOA report can best 

 serve the intent of Public Law 92-125 by addressing only key policy 

 issues to indicate where the Administration is moving to carry out 

 the recommendations of NACOA and to present the rationale of 

 the Administration where its plans, programs, and policies differ 

 from those recommended by NACOA. 



