would be in species not now taken by domestic fishermen or presently captured in limited volume compared to the size of the resources. Nearly 40 percent of the additional catch would come from waters within 3 miles of the U.S. coast and from interior waters, while about 25 percent would be taken within 3 to 12 miles of the U.S. coast. Atlantic and Gulf waters would supply over 50 percent of the increase; Pacific, about 38 percent; and lakes, streams, etc., 12 percent.

The five Great Lakes amount to inland seas, with possibilities for additional food fish harvests. During the last few decades production has been characterized by decline of the lake trout and increases in alternative species. Current United States and Canadian catches total about 100 million pounds per year. There are great possibilities for increases, however, in such species as the alewife. This has recently become so abundant as to be considered a pest by fishermen, not because it does not have good food potential, but because its demand on the U.S. food fish market is negligible.

Although not overwhelming in relation to national production, our river fisheries in such great systems as the Columbia and Mississippi-Missouri are not to be overlooked as fishing sources. Possibilities for increased yields are particularly good where power and irrigation dams have created vast artificial lakes and reservoirs. Research is now underway in an attempt to realize this potential for food sources. Successes with fish stocks in the reservoirs of the Tennessee River Valley Authority have shown that this can be done.

It should be noted that these estimates of increased potential catch are predicated on sound resource conservation practices and represent the maximum sustainable yield.

ORIGINS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE BCF FISH PROTEIN

CONCENTRATE

PROGRAM

To evaluate accurately the Bureau's endeavors and to understand fully the origins of the Bureau's program, a complex background of considerations must be appreciated.

World food supplies.-In every newspaper, magazine, or scientific publication, we are made aware of the fact that there exists a serious conflict between the population explosion (from which this country is not excluded) and food deficiencies, especially insufficiency in animal protein. I will not belabor this point because I think it is well known. Let me say, however, that compounding the danger of this conflict is the fact that our world picture undergoes very rapid change in many directions. To illustrate the rate of change that is taking place, even within these last 2 years, I would like to remind you that in August of 1964 the prediction was made that within about 30 years the present world population of 3 billion people would double. The predicition today is that by the year 2200 the inhabitants of the globe will number about 500 billion, which would make the population density of every continent equal to that of Washington, D.C. Even a curb in the population explosion by effective birth control meaasures, by widespread famine or by nuclear catastrophe could not prevent a great increase in the number of hungry people in the world.

We are witnessing today a trilogy of changes that have profound bearing on the harvesting of new food resources and thus on the concept of fish protein concentrate production. One of these changes, of course, is the demographic explosion that I have just mentioned and that I admit is beyond the grasp of my imagination. The other rapid change is the technological revolution that, among other benefits, makes it possible for fish protein concentrates to find their place in the world's larders. The third important and basic change that involves us here and which will aggravate the problem of adequate food supplies which we are facing, is what Harlan Cleveland, of the State Department, called "the revolution of rising expectations." This is a change that has brought the hope and expectations of better living standards and better food supplies to the furthest corners of the earth, and that is constantly forcing technology to satisfy these demands. One of the reasons why fish protein concentrates are so important in this context of change is the fact that our enlightened moral concepts leave us no choice but to provide the needed food, by newly developed techniques, in new forms, and from new sources. The most critical food shortage today, and for a long time to come, will be animal protein. Fishes are animals and, therefore, contain proteins that are equal, in their nutritive quality and amino acid composition, to the proteins of land animals such as beef, egg, or milk. Fish can and will therefore, take their full place in the human diet.

U.S. fishing industry.-Another important factor that was responsible for the initiation of the BCF fish protein concentrate program was the fact that the U.S.

commercial fishing industry has lost, to a large extent, its preeminent place in the world's fisheries and that it was also realized that the United States desperatety needed a modern, efficient, and energetic year-round fishing community. It should also be pointed out in this connection that the U.S. per capita consumption of fish as human food has not changed over the last 50 years, remaining at about 11 pounds per head per year, and that over 60 percent of the food fish now consumed in this country is imported.

Utilization of unused fish stock.-A further point that largely contributed to the initiation of the program was the fact discussed above that large volumes of fish existing in U.S. coastal waters are unutilized or underutilized. In view of the large scale shortage of animal proteins it was imperative that this large, selfreplenishing protein resource be properly and fully utilized.

Development of new methods of preservation.-A further and potent stimulus was the realization that over the last 40 years important efforts had been made in many parts of the world, including the United States, to develop inexpensive new methods of preserve fish for the sake of its protein value. The aim was to produce stable, wholesome, and nutritious fish protein concentrates suitable for incorporation into human foods. Many ingenious methods were reported in the scientific and engineering literature. Some of these methods utilize solvent extraction procedures to remove water, fats, and oils from the raw material. Certain others employ the use of enzymes or bacteria in order to extract a protein hydrolysate. Still further methods aim at utilizing novel physical methods. Nevertheless, of the many processes that had been offered, not a single one has, so far, been generally accepted or has led to industrial exploitation for human food production.

The realization that many potentially useful methods of producing fish protein concentrate existed, that the need for animal protein was immense, that vast stocks of fish remained unharvested, and that powerful reasons had, so far, prevented this important development from becoming successful-all of these factors were directly responsible for prompting the U.S. Congress to approve and fund the Bureau's program.

Realizing the benefits that this country would reap by the establishment of a U.S. fish protein concentrate industry, it became essential to determine the nature of the stumbling blocks that held back progress in this field.

Obstacles to successful application.-A study of the failures revealed a multiplicity of causes. In some cases engineering and technical know-how in designing FPC production processes had, indeed, been faulty. In others, important toxicological considerations had been neglected. In still further instances it had been impossible to create the right image of the product to enable the material to be sold. In summary, a survey showed that although the technical problems involved in producing fish protein concentrates were certainly not insurmountable it was very obvious that, without the coordinated advice of experts in the fields of nutrition, pediatrics, toxicology, biochemistry, engineering, etc., it would be almost impossible to devise a truly satisfactory method that would be inexpensive, wholesome, safe, and as highly nutritious as the raw material itself and acceptable to the consumer.

There existed another obstacle to the successful development of fish portein concentrates. This obstacle was the informal opinion of the Food and Drug Administration (the details of which are well known to you); an opinion which, in order to be changed, demanded the conscientious and concentrated efforts of scientists from many different disciplines.

In order to achieve the ends that many had in mind a very considerable effort was therefore needed to reach the objectives. The Bureau, prompted by the above considerations and in order to assist the U.S. industry by initiating the FPC program, proceeded to formulate the following objectives for its research and development program;

First, to study and improve existing methods or to develop new concepts for the manufacture of fish protein concentrates suitable for incorporation into human diets.

The attainment of a satisfactory method would involve a process that would require low initial capitalization, be economical in operation, be flexible for large and small scale operation, be flexible to permit operation in those parts of the world where public utilities are limited, result in the production of an end product that would be acceptable to peoples who may have varying taste preferences, cultures and social customs, that would result in the production of end products that would be approved as fully satisfactory and suitable by world recognized experts in the field of nutrition, and that would result in the manu

facture of a product that could be inexpensively shipped to distant countries, stored at ambient temperatures for varying periods of time without quality loss, and be easily incorporated into the local diets of undernourished peoples.

Second, to demonstrate the feasibility of a process that would be chosen to produce fish protein concentrates on a demonstration plant and industrial scale.

Third, to help establish markets for the fish protein concentrate through food research.

Fourth, to gather a sufficient body of data on both the process and resulting products to convince the Food and Drug Administration as to the suitability of FPC as a human food supplement. We would then expect the FDA to permit the sale in the United States of FPC, when produced according to a specifie method from specific raw materials.

The achievement of these objectives has been the task of many dedicated scientists and technicians. We have received advice from many sources. We believe that this new food supplement-the first of many potentially valuable FPC_products-provides a safe, wholesome, high quality protein source which. we believe, will have a significant impact on the world food problem and will change to a major degree the traditional fisheries of the United States.

In summary, Mr. Chairman. I wish to thank you and this committee for the continuing support and attention you have given this project. I believe your interest will be justified; the development of these protein concentrates made from the living resources of the sea will not only be of major benefit to mankind. but will be a large factor in improving the fishing industry of this country.

APPENDIX No. 1

INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE NORTHWEST ATLANTIC FISHERIES

Serial No. 1258 (B. Rept. O)—Contribution No. A-16

ICNAF ENVIRONMENTAL SYMPOSIUM, ROME, 27 JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 1964 Title: Relation of Temperature to Fish Abundance and Distribution in the Southern New England Area.

Author's Name and Address: R. L. Edwards Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole. Massachusetts.

Section: A. Effect of physical environmental conditions on the distribution of adult fish (Le. immediate and seasonal effects).

Convener's Name and Address: A. J. Lee, Fisheries Laboratory, Lowestoft, Suffolk, England.

Note: The attached page of charts are excerpted from this document. The charts are those referred to in the statement and identified as Figures 10(a) and (b) and 11(a) and (b)

FIGURE 108-Seasonal changes in stiver bake abundance on the South west ground, for the period 1956 through 1358 and average bottom temperature.

40

FIGURE 10b.-Yearly variation in seasonal changes of silver hake

abundance.

M

T

FIGURE 11a.-Seasonal changes in red hake abundance on the Southwest Ground, for the period 1956 through 1958, and average bottom temperature.

FIGURE 11b.-Yearly variation in seasonal changes of red hake abundance.

Mr. McKERNAN. Several witnesses this morning have indicated the general need for protein in the world today.

In my view, there is a need, or there is a desire by U.S. industry for an economical meat protein source, and it is our judgment that an inexpensively produced fish protein concentrate will find a market in the United States.

In addition to this, the major use, the one that is talked about at least to a greater degree, is the use of an inexpensive protein as a supplement for diets in developing nations.

Therefore, I think the general need for an inexpensive meat protein concentrate has been adequately established.

We would anticipate that such a product would be used in foreign countries as a supplement to the diets of these people, and might be used in different forms. In some countries it might be an odorless, tasteless flourlike powder which would be used as a supplement to the present cereal grain products used in these countries, simply added to the cereal product that is generally used in the countries itself.

In other countries perhaps the products with odor and even flavor might be desirable.

We are aware that some fish pastes are used in southeastern Asia in concentrated form, and we believe that fish concentrates in this form would be desirable in some countries.

Now, the United States has one of the largest coastlines of any country in the world, and we have one of the greatest and most productive Continental Shelfs of any country in the world.

We are using a relatively small portion of the available living resources found off our coast, and it is our judgment that the some 5 billion pounds that are harvested by U.S. fishermen off our coasts might be increased some 5 times if species heretofore not utilized were caught and could be marketed economically and form the basis of a usable product.