38 



you can devise recycling techniques, every ounce of mercury you save 

 is that much money gained. 



Senator Hollings. You have a long and an outstanding record in 

 research. Now, Woods Hole, could they pi-ovide us the innnediate 

 answers to coastal zone development, or should we be looking toward 

 the establishment of new research units? 



Mr. Ketchum. I think the coastal zone workshop that has already 

 been referred to by Dr. Stever has been published under my editor- 

 ship last October, and I tnist that you will have an opportunity to 

 see a copy of it — this was a generarapproacli to the overall problem 

 of both the science and the management pi-oblems that we face. 



We are fundamentally a research organization, but more and more 

 our younger scientists are becoming concerned with problems that are 

 relevant to the environment, relevant to man's activities, and I think 

 we have a long way to go in providing these answers, but yes. I think 

 we can help in providing at least scientific fomidation for some of the 

 answers that are essential. 



Senator Hollings. We congratulate you on the outstanding lead- 

 ership that has been given. Dr. White and I have been trying to get up 

 to Woods Hole. Senator Kennedy wants some fisheries hearings up 

 there, anyway, go maybe we can coordinate the two of them. I have 

 always been anxious to visit that institution. 



Dr. Ketchum. We would be glad to welcome you. 



Senator Hollings. We appreciate your appearances here this 

 morning. 



Dr. Ketchum. Thank you, 



[The statement folloAvs :] 



Statement of Dr. Bostwick H. Ketchum. Associate Director, Woods Hole 



oceanographic institution 



Senator Hollings, Members of the Subcommittee on Oceans and Atmosphere, it 

 is a pleasure to appear before you in order to make a statement concerning the 

 pollution of the oceans, especially in the coastal area. I have been deeply con- 

 cerned about oceanic pollution for at least 25 years, the major part of my pro- 

 fessional career. I greatly appreciate this opportunity to make a statement for 

 the record concerning the present state of our kno\vle<^lge of ocean ixtllution. A 

 brief curriculum vitae is appended to this statement for your information. 



INTRODUCTION 



It is unnecessary to elaborate before this Committee the value of the coastal 

 zone and its marine resources for the benefit of mankind. As you well know, 

 nearly lialf of the population of the United States lives within the regions ad- 

 jacent to our coastal waters or the shores of the Great Lakes. Historically, the 

 reason for this concentration of population in the coastal zone has l)een the ease 

 of transi)ortation of materials and peoi)Ie liy marine shipping. BtHniuse of the 

 density of people and of industry in tliis narrow strip of our land, the waters 

 have long been used for the dis)>osa] of the waste products of our population and 

 our technology. So long as pi»pulation densities were low, the in.sliore ocean 

 waters were able to recycle or recover from the added pollution. In many areas 

 this is no longer true, and .serious deterioration of water quality has re-sulted. 



The oceans have also been a valuable source of food, particularly of the animal 

 protein so essential in human nutrition, ever since our forefathers discovered 

 and settled upon the shores. In many parts of our coastal zone indiscriminate 

 waste disposal has depleted our fisheries resources in dramatic ways. Over 90% 



