"Ocean, wherein the whale Chapter II A PERSPECTIVE FOR MARINE Marine Science Affairs the title chosen for these Reports denotes the evolving relationship between marine sciences and the affairs of man. The increasing relevance of marine sciences to our society leads us first to consider the broad political, economic, and social fabric of our Nation's activities, and then to define how the oceans may provide alternative ways to achieve our goals and aspirations. Marine research and development programs are visualized as means rather than ends. Thus, progress in marine science affairs requires us to define public purposes and to formulate public policies that will guide and stimulate our scientific and engineering efforts to realize the ocean's potential benefits. The major challenges that lie ahead do not terminate at the water's edge. Neither do their solutions. As the world population outraces its food supply, the sea offers the possibility of significant new sources for food. As world requirements for energy and minerals grow faster than population, ocean resources hold the promise of additional riches. As coastal cities become even more crowded, the oceans can enhance the quality of urban living, particularly if the natural heritage of our shoreline is preserved and if there are new opportunities for people to refresh themselves at the seashore. Finally, as the world community of nations continues to explore new avenues to peace, the ocean suggests additional patterns of cooperation which can contribute to world order and understanding. The uses of the sea thus become the primary motivation for expanding our comprehension of it. While the focus of our research is primarily on possible applications for national security, economic growth, and attainment of social goals, we also recognize the inherent human curiosity about the world around us the desire to explore and seek adventure. Also, knowledge and understanding of the seas are sought in order to avert potential conflicts between uses of the oceans for different purposes before they arise, and to settle them if they arise. To provide a perspective for the Federal Government's $528 million marine science program described in later chapters, this chapter seeks to present an abstract of man's uses of the sea. An attempt has been made to quantity these uses wherever reliable statistics are available although the presentation is necessarily incomplete. These uses derive their unity from the common environment in which they take place—namely, the oceans of the world and their coastal margins. In brief, this chapter sets forth the present status of the ocean's relationship to people. The Global Geography of the Ocean From space, the earth appears as a globe substantially covered by water. The vastness of the ocean is sometimes difficult to comprehend. As suggested in Figure II-1, we know that the sea covers some 140 million square miles or 71 percent of the earth's surface; continental masses and lesser islands occupy less than 29 percent of the total surface. These land masses are surrounded by water with depths averaging two-and-one-half miles. The submarine landscape encompasses vast topographic features including continental shelves and slopes, canyons, seamounts, and broad abyssal plains. The deepest trench is further below sea level than the highest mountain is above. A generalized geological cross section of the ocean near land is depicted in Figure II-2; it should be recognized that the land-sea profile varies greatly from place to place. The underwater extension of the continents to a depth of 100 fathoms is equivalent in area to approximately one-fourth the area of the continental land masses. The breadth of these submarine extensions varies from coastline to coastline. Offshore the United States, there are about 850,000 square miles at depths less than 100 fathoms: off Alaska 550,000 square miles, off the Atlantic Coast 140,000 square miles, off the Gulf Coast 132,500 square miles, and off the Pacific Coast 26,500 square miles. Table II-1 identifies Figure 11-2—Generalized Geological Cross Section of Continental Margin selected countries of the world which border extensive ocean areas of depths less than 1,000 fathoms. These physical attributes of the oceans provide a partial understanding of man's life; for geography affects use, and man relies on the seas for transportation and commerce, food, fuel and minerals, recreation, waste disposal, and security. The Great Commercial Highway Of all the uses of the sea, the one which is indispensable to modern society is maritime transport. Today's maritime trade routes form lifelines for the exchange of raw materials and manufactured goods vital to the economy of almost every nation. Additionally, a nation's merchant marine can be a profitable enterprise, providing a source of wealth, earning foreign exchange, and enhancing national prestige. It can constitute a military resource and |