442 



It is a happy charaoteristic of our system that enterprise is encouraged ancE 

 that individuals, communities and industries and even states promote their own 

 interests, growth and development. Unfortunately, quite often these promotions 

 create unforeseen pressures on the natural environment. Often they create pres- 

 sures that are contrary to, or augmented by, the desires of existing users. As an 

 example, a manufacturing industry may wish to use estuarine waters to cool or 

 in processing and to receive its wastes. These desires even within a single eco- 

 nomic unit may conflict. The employees of that plant and the community in which 

 it is located may use the water to swim and fish and for the disposal of wastes and 

 the shorelines as homesites. These may also conflict with each other and the 

 industry that they serve. 



Exploitation of Marine Organisms 



Destruction or degradation of the marine habitats by poorly conceived and 

 operated engineering projects, by contaminants and siltation serve to eliminate or 

 reduce marine organisms. Also, important are the harvesting activities of man. 



As has been mentioned above (see also Appendices II, III, and IV) most com- 

 mercial or sport species of finfish and molluscs in Virginia waters are not being 

 exploited to their fullest. However, a few are and great care must be taken not 

 to eliminate these much used forms. Furthermore, we must always be careful not 

 to exceed that flne point beyond which rational exploitation becomes too heavy 

 and destructive. All too often we cannot even recognize this point. Because sur- 

 vival and success of mai'ine animals and plants depends upon so many factors 

 including not only those actually or potentially destructive activities of man 

 mentioned above but also natural catastrophes or changes, complete under- 

 standing of these factors is necessary and continuous surveillance obligatory. 



In the past, heavy dependence has been placed upon regulation of fishing pres- 

 sures by law. With more adequate knowledge this approach has been shown to be 

 fruitful in only a few cases. Often the restrictions have served no useful purpose. 

 It is especially important that laws and regulations and other management de- 

 cisions and devices be based upon the resources themselves and not upon xvain- 

 formed whim, opinion or pressure. To have it otherwise accomplishes nothing but 

 wasteful restriction. 



In order to successfully make use of and conserve the living marine resources,, 

 it will be necessary to learn more about their ecological requirements and their 

 physiological responses. In addition, a continuous and careful monitoring of the 

 stocks of all major species is needed. 



For many species, it seems unlikely that we can really do much to increase 

 their numbers. They must, of course, be protected from over-utilization and from 

 the problems of environmental destruction. Some species can be increased by- 

 special practices svich as utilizing productivity generated by human wastes or by 

 other environmental improvements. Especially susceptible to purposeful culture- 

 are the molluscs which probably will be hatched, reared and grown under con- 

 trolled conditions to get as far away from the vagaries of nature as possible. A 

 substantial start has been made on this. In the meantime, we can, if w^e will, 

 double production now merely by revising archaic practices and following more 

 modern procedures. 



THE FUTURE 



We have seen that the Commonwealth's marine resources are very valuable and 

 much more important to her economy than most acknowledge or even suspect. 

 Virginia is truly a maritime state. Because of their complexity and the multiple,, 

 often conflicting demands of their users, wise use and developmient of these re- 

 sources will require careful planning and management. Rapidly increasing popu- 

 lation levels in the maritime counties and burgeoning industrialization increases 

 the necessity for prompt action. 



The marine resources now suffer from poor management practices and as 

 pressure grows their degradation becomes more intense. 



Two deficiencies are especially notable. One is antiquated or inadequate deci- 

 sion-making processes which operate inefliciently and in provincial or partisan 

 manner and often not in keeping with the facts concerning the natural resources 

 themselves. The other is the prevailing lack of adequate information on which to 

 base wise decisions. (Obviously, the former depends upon the latter.) 



In order to improve Virginia's chances of making optimal use of her natural: 

 resources new decision-making systems are needed. Also necessary is a more- 

 careful evaluation of goals in resource use. 



