Future studies need to be conducted in the following areas: 



(1) Document and compile natural history surveys of the Sound's 

 various resident species (winter flounder, tautog, oysters, 

 hard clams) in order to permit an evaluation of existing 

 management regulations and to provide a rational basis for 

 future management.. Such surveys would include data on 

 biological parameters such as standing crops recruitment, 

 growth, total mortality, and catch and effort relationshipso 



(2) In order to better manage migratory species in the Sound, 

 cooperative management programs must be established ivdth- 

 in an interstate/international frameworko 



(3) Efforts should be made to identify and describe the nat- 

 ural habitats available in the LISS area to provide a 

 means to evaluate actual and potential biological re- 

 sourceso 



(4) In order to quantify our knowledge of the LIS ecosystem, 

 the energy pathways must be defined o 



(5) Commercial and recreational fishing demands must be docu- 

 mented and evaluatedo 



These programs need to be implemented in order to prevent domin- 

 ating environmental changes, constraints, or deteriorationo 



The cost of this fishery management/ research program is estimated at 

 approximately 12 million dollars spread over the next 5-10 yearso This estimate 

 includes not only the cost of research studies but the costs of fishing piers, 

 access sites, artificial reefs, and environmental education programs.. Funds to 

 support these programs are available through several sourceso They could possibly 

 be funded through existing legislation such as P.Lo 88-309 - Commercial Fisheries 

 Research and Development Act, P^Lo 89-304 - Anadromous Fish Act of 1965, or 

 through NCAA's Sea Grant Program for university researcho Other means include 

 use of funds available through the Dingell-Johnson Act of 1950, use of nonrebated 

 gasoline taxes, small apportionments of the boater registration fees, and revenues 

 from a salt-water licensing programo 



Non-rebated gasoline taxes could be directed to fishery management 

 programso This policy has recently been introduced in the state of North 

 Carolina and presently all non-rebated gasoline tax monies obtained by the Marine 

 Division of the Department of National and Economic Resources are being utilized 

 exclusively for construction and maintenance of artificial reefso In California, 

 fishery management programs (ioeo construction and maintenance of fishing piers) 

 are supported through a small apportionment of the paramutual funds o The success 

 of these programs should be evaluated to determine if such undertakings would 

 be applicable in this area. 



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