activity off New England and in Lake Erie has 

 caused particular worry. 



The New England Fisheries & Conservation 

 Committee^ ' has expressed alarm that oil explora- 

 tion on Georges Banks imperils a resource that is a 

 vital industry to New England and "constitutes 1 2 

 per cent of the world's fish supply." There is 

 concern that an accident similar to the oil well 

 blowout at Cook Inlet, Alaska, might cause pollu- 

 tion ruinous to New England commercial fisheries, 

 sport fishing and the recreation industry. 



Conflicts presently exist between the shrimp 

 and oyster fisheries and the oil industry along the 

 Gulf Coast, particularly in Louisiana. In a report 

 to the panel,' ^ Dr. Lyle S. St. Amant, Assistant 

 EHrector, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commis- 

 sion, stated: 



The growing of oysters and the harvesting of 

 shrimp in Louisiana is a big business-but it is only 

 a small fraction as big as the petroleum industry in 

 the state. In 1966, according to the Independent 

 Petroleum Association of America, the value of 

 crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas, at the 

 well in Louisiana was approximately 

 $3,194,341,000 and the petroleum industry paid 

 46 per cent of the State 's revenue. 



The value of Louisiana fisheries in 1966 was 

 approximately $100 million. 



Because of the high productivity of both the 

 mineral and seafood industries, it is apparent that 

 every reasonable effort must be made to allow the 

 two industries to operate in the same area without 

 serious conflict. 



The Federal Goverimient, State and local gov- 

 ernments. National conservation organizations, 

 and private citizens have expressed grave concern 

 in recent years over the increasing destruction of 

 estuaries providing critical habitat for a major 

 portion of the marine, sport and commercial 

 fisheries, waterfowl and other wildUfe resources of 

 the Nation.' ' Reflecting this concern, the 

 National Estuarine Study of the Department of 



the Interior''' will attempt to identify endangered 

 areas critical to wildlife preservation. 



VMI. AQUACULTURE 



Aquaculture today is of minor importance 

 although in the future it could increase dramatic- 

 ally our domestic fish production. Depending on 

 market demands and research and technology, 

 aquaculture can be expected to reach significant 

 proportions in 20 to 30 years.'' 



Systematic production of both finfish and 

 shellfish could reduce present demand for offshore 

 water and bottom space but also could stimulate 

 further demand for marsh lands and shallow 

 estuarine waters. 



Aquaculture is employed widely in Asiatic 

 countries: 5 per cent of Japan's total fish catch 

 comes from coastal areas with retention devices. 

 China, Taiwan, the Phihppines all report consider- 

 able "pondfish" production.'* 



Excluding leased shellfish beds, marine aqua- 

 culture activity in the United States is limited to 

 developmental and pilot studies. However, thriving 

 freshwater commercial trout and catfish "farms" 

 have developed recently; production can be in- 

 creased tremendously if markets are available. For 

 example, it is estimated that in a five-State south 

 central region about 13 milUon acres are suitable 

 for conversion to catfish ponds.' ^ 



Aquaculture is attractive because it offers reUef 

 from the greatest handicap of the fishing indus- 

 try—reliance on an uncertain common property 

 resource. Because a fish farmer has full control of 



Report of meeting of New England Fisheries & 

 Conservation Committee, Nov. 10, 1967. 



32 



Presented at panel hearings, Houston, Jan. 24, 1968. 



33 



See Chapter 3 for a more detailed discussion on 

 losses in wildlife and nutrient areas. 



PubUc Law 90-454 of the 90th Congress, Aug. 3, 

 1968, (formerly H.R. 25) authorizes the Secretary of the 

 Interior, in cooperation with the States to conduct an 

 inventory and study of the Nation's estuaries and their 

 natural resources. An additional study authorized by 

 Section 5(g) of the Clean Water Restoration Act of 1966, 

 Act of November 3, 1966, 80 Stat. 1246, 33 U.S.C. 431, 

 various sections, is being conducted by the Federal Water 

 Pollution Control Authority. See Chapter 9. 



35 



Report of the Panel on Fishing at the Second 

 Conference on the Continental Shelf, National Security 

 Industrial Association-Ocean Science & Technology Advi- 

 sory Committee (OSTAC), November 1967. 



'*Ryther and Bardach, The Status and Potential of 

 Aquaculture, report to the National Council on Marine 

 Resources and Engineering Development by the American 

 Institute of Biolgoical Sciences, PubUcation PB 177 768 

 of the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical 

 Information, 1968. 



37 



Report of Department of Interior at panel hearing, 

 Oct. 10, 1967. 



III-22 



