Management and Control,"' which points to the 

 need for consideration of the total problem and all 

 the possible alternatives offered. 



Whatever ultimate solutions are proposed for 

 the nation to combat the entire spectrum of 

 environmental pollution, key elements of knowl- 

 edge must be available on the processes in our 

 estuarine and near shore environments. 



Recommendation : 



The Nation should undertake a much enhanced 

 program of basic research into the dynamics of 

 estuarine waters, the identification of specific 

 pollutants and the tracing of their effects, both on 

 individual species and ecosystems, and on the 

 mechanisms through which organisms in the estua- 

 rine ecosystem take up and accumulate various 

 kinds of pollutants. 



C. Fish Habitats 



As pointed out in "Changing the Shape of the 

 Coast" and "Polluting the Waters," one of the 

 principal uses of the near shore environment which 

 conflicts violently with other uses is the harvest 

 and natural breeding ground of some of the most 

 valuable shellfish and finfish. Table 12 lists the 

 large number of sport and commercial species of 

 Atlantic finfish which are estuarine dependent.* 



Waste Management and Control, National Academy 

 of Sciences-National Research Council, Pub. No. 1400, 

 1966. 



^American Littoral Society, Spec. Pub. No. 5, 1967. 



In addition, the very valuable shrimp and shellfish 

 industry is estuarine dependent. 



The conservation and management of our fish- 

 eries is vitally dependent upon our knowledge of 

 these regions as habitats. The relationship of the 

 biota to physical changes in their estuarine en- 

 vironment constitutes a major problem. The over- 

 lapping, often contradictory needs of this popula- 

 tion require careful research on the habitat 

 preferences of each species or ecosystem under 

 consideration. Natural disturbances often have 

 catastrophic effects upon marine populations. 

 Mass mortalities often result from sudden changes 

 in salinity, temperature or the depletion of 

 oxygen. 



Further, the changes likely to be wrought by 

 such engineering activities as constructing drainage 

 systems, dredging channels and disposing of spoil, 

 building seawalls and jetties and stabilizing dunes, 

 all require investigation. 



On the other hand, modification by man to 

 alleviate environmental stress, while impractical in 

 the open ocean, can be accomplished in the more 

 limited confines of the estuary. Thermal changes 

 resulting from the operation ot power plants or 

 desalination facilities may be used beneficially; 

 breakwater construction, creation of artificial 

 reefs, dredging operations and river flow control 

 all may serve to enhance and augment the estua- 

 rine and near shore habitat. 



Such information as the Nation needs cannot 

 be obtained over the short term. If we are to 



Table 12. IMPORTANT ESTUARINE-DEPENDENT ATLANTIC GAME AND COMMERCIAL FISH' 



'The three categories represent a rough approximation of habitat preference of adult fish. 



^Anadronnous species: Living as adults in salt or brackish water but spawning in fresh or nearly fresh water. 



Source; Fish and Man, American Littoral Society, Spec. Pub. No. 5, 1967. 



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