Chapter 3. Policies To Accelerate Industrial Development of Marine Resources 
1. GOVERNMENT SPONSORED RESEARCH 
AND DEVELOPMENT 
Optimum utilization of ocean resources will 
require a very substantial increase in knowledge of 
ocean characteristics and development of new 
technology. The propriety of Government assist- 
ance to scientific and technical advancement com- 
mensurate with the National interest and industrial 
needs is well established and widely accepted. 
Furthermore, this means of accelerating industry’s 
marine effort is cost-effective, impartial, and can 
be terminated as objectives are attained. 
A. Survey Programs 
Far more information and greater research 
efforts are necessary if potential ocean uses are to 
stimulate the effort they merit. For example, 
programs are needed to generate survey data on 
living resources, reconnaissance-scale geological 
features, and environmental characteristics. At the 
same time research activities must be undertaken 
to advance the ability to interpret these data; 
without this ability the survey programs could not 
be effective. 
Experience has demonstrated that such research 
and survey activity can stimulate development of 
technical capabilities, make existing operations 
more efficient, and accelerate innovation. 
The panel has found that industry today will 
readily use additional bathymetric and geophysical 
surveys and geological analysis of the Continental 
Shelf, slope, and rise. This is of particular impor- 
tance to the mining industry, but also would be 
helpful to the petroleum industry, particularly in 
deeper waters and in remote areas where even 
general geological characteristics remain unknown. 
These surveys should be reconnaissance in nature; 
detailed exploratory surveys should be conducted 
by industry. 
Recommendation: 
Bathymetric base maps overlaid with geophysical 
and geological information should be prepared to a 
scale of 1:250,000 for the continental shelves, 
slopes, and rises of the United States within 15 to 
20 years. Selecticn of areas to be surveyed should 
be based on priorities that take into account user 
needs. 
This information will provide the foundation 
for more detailed exploratory work by industry. 
Detailed exploration will be expensive, and a firm 
engaging in the work will require extensive initial 
survey data to reduce costs and risks. Further, 
reconnaissance surveys are expected to uncover a 
host of new industrial opportunities.’ 
Precedent for this work has been set by onshore 
mapping. Survey programs must not become ends 
in themselves but should support many objectives, 
including those of industry. 
B. Programs in Multipurpose Technology 
Technological innovations that reduce an ocean 
operation’s cost will improve profit outlooks and 
accelerate marine resource development. Conse- 
quently, a basic technology program oriented 
toward reducing costs relevant to a wide variety of 
user interests will compress the timetable for 
utilization of the seas’ resources. 
The Panel on Marine Engineering and Technol- 
ogy states that a 10-year program of intensive 
undersea development is in the National interest 
and recommends that it begin immediately, em- 
phasizing fundamental, multipurpose technology. 
Government sponsorship of such a program is 
appropriate if the effort concentrates on such 
basic and widely applicable areas as development 
of data on materials performance, concepts for 
simple tools, and hyperbaric physiology. In most 
instances, large-scale projects that benefit only a 
specific industry more properly should be carried 
out by that industry. The process of selecting 
specific projects must take into account needs of 
the Government, scientific community, and indus- 
try, and must avoid competition with private 
industry. 
Recommendation: 
The Federal Government should initiate in the 
near future a program to assure development of 
basic multipurpose technology that will enhance 
the capability of a broad spectrum of users to 
perform useful work on and in the oceans. 
1 4 dditional discussion of survey needs is found in the 
Report of the Marine Resources Panel. 
