harvesting in the area is restricted, because of bac- 
terial contamination. Industrial operations and com- 
munities cause localized pollution problems center- 
ing around Penobscot Bay and River, Maine. The 
resultant bacterial pollution from raw sewage dis- 
posal has forced the closing of once highly produc- 
tive clamming areas. Sludge deposits covering much 
of the bottom of the bay and river are believed 
responsible for decreases in the harvests of lobster 
and scallop. Anadromous fisheries in the area have 
also suffered because of a completely depleted dis- 
solved oxygen supply during the summer owing in 
part to dams. The polluted condition of the Penob- 
scot Bay and River has, however, resulted in strong 
cleanup action by the State of Maine and the Envi- 
ronmental Protection Agency. The diminution of the 
salmon fishery has been directly associated with the 
increase in dambuilding, lumbering, and other indus- 
trial activities along the New England coast. 
Mid-Atlantic—Pollution in major Atlantic popu- 
lation centers has caused a decline in coastal envi- 
ronmental quality. Off New York it has adversely 
affected nearby ocean waters as well. In Raritan 
Bay, N.J., and Jamaica Bay, N.Y., many formerly 
productive shellfishing areas have been closed. 
Dumping of treated sewage sludge (4 million cubic 
meters in 1977) and acid wastes in waters off New 
York City have adversely affected fish in that area. 
Fin rot and other diseases are apparent in some 
fish caught in the area. Some bottom dwelling popu- 
lations of fish are smothered or otherwise severely 
affected. Many embayments on the New Jersey coast 
are affected from land and river runoff carrying 
among other pollutants, septic tank effluent, and 
fertilizers. 
South Atlantic—Poilution problems in this region 
are associated with the discharge of municipal and 
industrial wastes, especially from pulp- and paper- 
mills into confined harbor areas. The result of such 
dumping is depressed dissolved oxygen and a high 
content of organic material in the water. This region 
is also characterized by modification of the estuarine 
system, resulting in heavy siltation and extensive 
destruction of marshes and estuaries, which play a 
major role in the life cycle of two major commercial 
fishery products, menhaden and shrimp. Crabs and 
oysters also are prevalent in these waters. 
Gulf of Mexico region—Pollution and industrial 
development in the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding 
area are similar to those of the South Atlaniic region. 
In the Gulf region, however, coastal water pollution 
may be linked to a wide variety of chemical manu- 
facturing. The waste products of such industries 
can subtly damage marine resources. A further 
source of pollution in the Gulf of Mexico area is 
pesticides and fertilizers draining into the Mississippi 
River from croplands in the Midwest. Fish kills in 
the Mississippi River have been directly related to 
excessive concentrations of pesticides. The Missis- 
sippi River delta has an intricate system of channels 
and marshes that support an extensive oyster and 
shrimp harvest. Coastal areas are also damaged by 
creation of canals to move oil drilling equipment; 
the dredging upsets the ecological balance in the 
delta area through siltation and change in water 
salinity. 
West Coast—tn the San Francisco Bay area, 
development of industry and the metropolitan area 
have caused the filling of many marshlands and 
estuarine shallows. The result of this land fill has 
been the decline or destruction of crab and shrimp 
fishing. This area was one of the largest areas suit- 
able for nursery grounds for ocean fish of the 
Pacific coast. 
Tidal rivers and headwaters of many of the 
streams of the Northwest region are the spawning 
grounds of several species of salmon. Salmon require 
cool, clean water with a small temperature range for 
reproduction and are especially sensitive to . toxic 
materials. The construction of numerous high dams 
on major rivers such as the Columbia has raised the 
water temperature and altered migration patterns. 
Industrial wastes, discharged near the mouth of 
the Columbia River, have stimulated alga growth 
to the extent of fouling the gill nets of commercial 
fishermen. In Puget Sound, Wash., wastes from pulp- 
mills reduced dissolved oxygen, created sludge de- 
posits, and increased the concentrations of sus- 
pended solids in several embayments. These changes 
in water quality have already adversely affected the 
salmon and shelifishery resources of Bellingham Bay 
and other parts of Puget Sound. 
Alaska and its neighboring oceans are rich in a 
variety of natural resources that are currently being 
developed in a major way. Alaska’s southeastern 
coastal forests are being cut for timber and pulp- 
wood. Paper- and pulpmills have caused some water 
quality degradation. Pollution from possible oii 
spills and other toxic materials threatens the living 
resources of Alaska waters including salmon and 
king crab. 
Wildlife Management and Conservation 
Some forms of wildlife and marine mammal pro- 
tection efforts can conflict with commercial and 
recreational fishery interests. At the same time, wild- 
life protection activities in a sound conservation pro- 
gram will result in improved fisheries. 
The wildlife activities of the Federal Government 
that protect fishery habitats are sometimes contro- 
versial, with debate centered on the extent to which 
the Federal Government should be involved and how 
much to spend for this activity. 
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