11 



work. The assignment to the commission, however, extended well 

 .beyond the scope of all previous studies in requiring a searching and 

 comprehensive review of the totality of the Nation's nonmiltiary 

 interests in the seas. 



The commission interpreted its mandate broadly. Pursuant to the 

 clear intent of Congress, it undertook to formulate a plan of national 

 action ,which would embrace the activities of local governments, inter- 

 national organizations, and the private sector as well as of Federal 

 agencies. 



Whereas previous repoits had concentrated largely on scientific 

 and technical matters, the commission looked to the whole range of 

 the Nation's civil marine interests including resource development, 

 environmental prediction, the maintenance of environmental quality, 

 and on a more limited basis, recreation, transportation, and military 

 uses of the oceans. 



Its recommendations were directed to improving institutional frame- 

 works as well as to advancing knowledge and improving technical 

 capability to make more effective use of the oceans. A major portion of 

 the commission's work, of course, was addressed to considering the 

 most eft'octive way to organize the very broad spectrum of persons and 

 groups having a stake in marine affairs so as to mobilize effective 

 action, not just v.ithin the Federal Establishment, but across the entire 

 Nation. 



One of the most important contributions made by the commission, 

 in my mind, was its differentiation of three major zones of geographic 

 interest within the overall plan. Whereas the science of oceanography 

 had focused mainly on the deep oceans, and previous reports had re- 

 flected this view, the commission concluded that it was Nation's coasts, 

 ■estuarine areas, and Great Lakes which presented the most urgent 

 ])roblems and the most immediate and tangible opportunities for 

 improvement. 



Development of the sea's resources, while conducted in a variety of 

 environments, required improved technologv and survey information 

 chiefly at Continental Shelf depths, which defined a second zone. 

 Beyond the shelves stretch the deep seas, of which present knowledge 

 permits only limited use, and here the major tasks seemed to be explo- 

 ration and scientific investigation and to establish a monitoring and 

 prediction system to maintain watch over the coupled movements of 

 the global air-sea envelope. 



The commission conducted its basic investigations through seven 

 panels, drawn from its membership and supported by staff and con- 

 snltants. Tlie reports of panelsdealing with marine science, technology, 

 resource dovelooment. industrial and investment issues, environmental 

 matters, education and training, and international law — provided the 

 prima rv source material upon which the commission as a whole based 

 its conclusions. 



These reports have been pul^lislied by the commission and constitute 

 an extraordinary rich fund of information and analysis in these more 

 snocifir fields. You Imve received copies of one of the volmnes, but you 

 might ]>e interested to see all three. There are eiffht roports within the 

 tliree volumes entitled, among others, "Science and Environment," 

 "Industry," and "Technology." 



