These metals are important as trace elements in the nutrient cycle of the 

 marsh's primary producers, but they become harmful in excessive amounts. When 

 introduced as salts, they are fairly soluble and stable in solution^ Conse- 

 quently, they are rather persi stent « The toxic heavy metal concentrations 

 listed in Table 2 represent the lowest values for the particular species tested 

 and not absolute minimumso Also, these toxic levels do not consider the syner- 

 gistic effect that may occur ^d.th the presence of other metals. For example, 

 the toxic effects of mercuric salts are accentuated by the presence of trace 

 amounts of coppero The table does indicate, however, the minute quantities 

 of metal salts that can damage an estuarine system. 



Although this report is focusing on the biological aspects of the 

 Sound, it is worth stressing that wetlands contribute to many other aspects of 

 the Sound, such as water quality, recreation, visual aesthetics, and flood pro- 

 tection., For example, wetlands indeed serve as a natural buffer for storm tides 

 and waveso Marsh peat and vegetation are resilient and tend to intercept storm 

 tides and absorb much of the energy of wave shockso When wetlands are filled, 

 this buffering action and the related flood storage capacity of the wetlands 

 are losto 



The 1969 Session of the Connecticut General Assembly enacted legis- 

 lation to define and bring under regulation the use of Connecticut's tidal wet- 

 lands o The legislation became effective October 1, 1969, and a tidal wetlands 

 program was established by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protec- 

 tion, Water and Related Resources Unite Since 1969, 96 percent of Connecticut' ■= 

 wetlands have been definedo The emphasis of the program is now shifting the 

 uses of wetlands so that further environmental degradation is prevented. 



In September, 1973, New York's Tidal Wetlands Act became effective as 

 an amendment to the environmental conservation law which gave protection and preser- 

 vation to the tidal wetlands » The amendment was added to provide for an inventory 

 of the wetlands and to develop a coastal zone management planC'land use regulations")., 

 The inventory is to be conducted by the New York State Department of Environmental 

 Conservation, and until the inventory and the coastal zone management plan are com- 

 pleted, a moratorium has been placed on all alteration of tidal wetlands in New York. 

 However, during this moratorium, the New York State Department of Environmental 

 Conservation may issue permits regarding the alteration of these wetlands provided 

 such alteration will not have a detrimental effect upon the tidal wetlands o 



3oO THE FISHERY 



3. 1 How is the fishery important to the public? 



Commercial fishing . Present annual consumption of fishery products 

 in the study area is estimated at 96 million poundso^ By 1990, this demand is 



■^This figure is based on a regional fishery products consumption figure of l6 lbs/person 

 as estimated by the National Marine Fisheries Service multiplied by a regional popu- 

 lation figure of approximately six million persons as estimated by OBERS projections. 



