481 



tion control, mitritional values and health hazards of sea resDurces, marine liio- 

 toxicolo^y, infectious agents, hypersensitivity reactions to marine prodiu-ts, phy- 

 siolosical effects of the marine environment on man, pharmaeenti'als and drugs 

 from the sea, and other general marine health problems. The present support 

 level of these laboratories is inadequate. These laboratories should be upgraded, 

 adequately funded, and their operations expanded. These regional laboratories 

 should be adequately equipped for advanced sophisticated anal.vtifal research. 



It is further recommened that additional sites be considered for the e.stablish- 

 ment of regional marine health laboratories in Alaska, Hawaii, Rhode Island, 

 California, Florida, Texas, or the Virgin I.slands. One or more of these labora- 

 tories should serve as technical documentation centers. 



THE NEED OF REGIONAL MARINE BIO-MEDICAL FIELD LABORATORIES 



There is urgent need for international field research facilities for investigator.? 

 needing to vs^ork in specific geographical (continental or insular, temperate, sub- 

 tropical, tropical, or polar) oceanic regions. Field research units would in mo.st 

 instances be minimal field facilities but with maximum accessibility to field re- 

 sources. These laboratories would be used primarily for the procurement of liv- 

 ing .specimen materials, ecological, physiological, and other types of activities 

 that could not be conducted to a greater advantage elsewhere. Each laboi*atory 

 would be of a standard format and would have collecting gear, diving equipment, 

 and small vessels (approx. 45 ft.) suitable for making local field studies. 



The following field sites are recommended on the basis of their strategic en- 

 vironmental and geographical locations. These field units could be operated either 

 under contract with a private nonprofit organization or directly by a govern- 

 mental agency. Recommended sites are as follows : 



Indonesia (Ambon*) 



Thailand* 



Seychelles 



East Africa* 



Aegean-Adriatic areas 



British Isles* 



West Africa 



Azores 



Brazil* 



Galapagos Islands* 



Gulf of California* 



Pt. Barrow, Alaska* 



Palmer Station, Antarctica* 



Trust Territory (Patau,* Jaluit) 



Line Islands (Palmyra) 



Samoa 



New Caledonia* 



Societ.v Islands* 



Great Barrier Reef* 



Korea* 



Japan* 



Ethiopia 



India* 



Virgin Islands (St. Johns*) 



Cozumel 



Honduras 



Canal Zone* 



♦Indicates that there is an existing facility, but most of these present facilities 

 are in dire need of more adequate support. 



Most of these localities are readily accessible by air transportation. 



Particular attention is directed to the fact that the greatest assemblage of 

 marine organisms possessing biodynamic substances is found within the Malay 

 Archipelago (Sumatra, .Java, Lesser Sunda, Moluccas, Timor, New Guinea, 

 Borneo. Celebes, and the Philippines). It is noted with deep regret that the United 

 States has not used to advantage one of the richest biotic provinces in the world 

 which is available to our country through Palau in the Trust Territory. Patau 

 lies on the eastern border of the Malayan Archipelago and is about 400 to 600 

 miles northeast of Ambon in the Moluccas where the Soviets had almost com- 

 pleted building an enormous oceanographic facility for the Indonesian Govern- 

 ment. It is highly recommended that a biomedical research laboratory be estab- 

 lished in Palau at the earliest possible moment. 



THE NEED FOR A NATIONAL RESEARCH VESSEL FACILITY 



A single large research ship (5,000 ton class) should be made available and 

 equipped as a national facility for marine biomedical investigations. In addition, 

 it is recommended that smaller vessels (approx. 45 ft. in length) be assigned to 

 regional field facilities for local operations. These vessels should be specially 

 designed for biomedical ocean work and adequately equipped for survey, collect- 

 ing, and diving operations. Special attention needs to be directed to the problem 

 of refrigeration and low temperature requirements suitable for the preservation 



26-563— 69— pt. 1- 



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