When development of an industry is not 
progressing, more drastic changes are recom- 
mended, including those of a fiscal, legal- 
regulatory, or technological nature—all of which 
are interrelated. For example, U.S. fishermen 
should be permitted to purchase vessels abroad 
and should not be required to pay excessive duty 
on foreign gear. This would help improve, for 
example, the technical position of the New 
England groundfish fishermen, enabling them to 
compete more effectively with foreign fishermen. 
In addition, technology’s role in the Bureau of 
Commercial Fisheries should be upgraded con- 
siderably, with substantial emphasis given search 
and location techniques. 
When an industry’s development is yet to begin, 
as in offshore placer mining, special incentives to 
pioneers and special attention to removal of 
legal-regulatory and economic obstacles are 
needed. The Federal Government can do much 
prior to the beginning of a new mining enterprise, 
such as implementing a more comprehensive re- 
connaissance survey program of the shelves and 
encouraging broad basic engineering programs pres- 
ently beyond the financial capability of most 
industries. 
The nature of the encouragement for other 
potential ocean industries depends on the partic- 
ular industry. Incentives for deep water oil and gas 
development, for example, would be somewhat 
different from deep water mining for many rea- 
sons, including: 
—Availability of oil and gas industry venture 
capital is different from that of mining. 
—The immediate past history of offshore oil and 
gas has created a more experienced industry. 
—Extracting liquid or gas is far different from such 
mining operations as dredging nodules. 
A common thread running through most ocean 
industries is the realization that aid in areas of 
basic engineering and in costly technology devel- 
opment facilities (available for lease) will be vitally 
useful. However, it is recognized that the mining 
and petroleum industries will wish to conduct 
their own detailed surveys and develop much of 
the final phase of the extraction technology. Both 
are important, but if the Government performs 
these functions, it will virtually eliminate the 
VI-136 
incentive and competition necessary for resource 
development by free enterprise. 
The Federal Government should keep a watch- 
ful eye on future industries with longer range 
potential and maintain close liaison with those 
industries and the academic community, as new 
developments may reverse the outlook. Two major 
recommendations emerge from a review of the 
industries’ technological status. 
Recommendations: 
National Projects such as the Fixed and Portable 
Continental Shelf Laboratories should be under- 
taken. Such projects would permit many users to 
lease and use these facilities to test the economic 
and technical feasibility of new undersea develop- 
ment options. 
A statutory mechanism is needed through 
which the Federal Government, State govern- 
ments, industry, and academic community can 
cooperate to provide responsible advice and plan- 
ning for a truly national ocean program. Such a 
mechanism would help ensure that the overall 
program makes effective use of the competence 
and facilities of both Government and private 
organizations. In addition, it could be used to 
identify deficiencies in basic engineering disci- 
plines, facilities, and manpower. Further, this 
mechanism could ensure consideration of impor- 
tant ocean programs not presently planned by 
industry or Government. Finally, this mechanism 
could monitor the progress of National Projects 
and the Government’s fundamental technology 
efforts. The common need for this became appar- 
ent in hearings and interviews conducted with a 
broad cross section of marine interests. 
|. FISHING 
The case for a growing and stable fishing 
industry as a resource of employment and Na- 
tional income was vividly illustrated by the follow- 
ing: 
The annual catch is worth $438 million (1967) at 
dockside, but to the processor it is worth $1 
billion. Fishermen have $500 million tied up in 
vessels that keep shipyards and gear manufacturers 
busy. The industry and closely allied shore activi- 
ties provide half a million jobs. U.S. fishermen, 
