Virginia, being a seaboard State and possessed of large bodies of tidal waters, the mighty Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, has been and presently still is richly endowed with marine resources. These resources consist of fish, crabs, oysters, clams and other shellfish, beaches, waterways, harbors, and waterfowl and constitute a large and important part of the economy of the Commonwealth. They give rise to commercial gathering and processing of seafood, waterborne commerce, recreational boating and fishing, swimming and hunting. However, under the twin burdens of increased industrialization of the State and a burgeoning population, conflicting interests in the use of our marine resources have arisen and increased in intensity and the preservation of these resources can no longer be left up to a bountiful nature. (See Appendix A)

Aware of the increasing complexities of these latter day problems in an area where the bounty of nature was once taken for granted, the General Assembly of Virginia, at its 1966 Regular Session, adopted House Joint Resolution No. 59, creating a Commission to study matters relating to the marine resources of Virginia.

Pursuant to this Resolution, the Governor appointed the following individuals to the Commission: E. Almer Ames, Jr., Attorney at Law and member of the Senate of Virginia, Onancock; Richard M. Bagley, President of Bagley Investment Company and member of the House of Delegates, Hampton; Russell M. Carneal, Attorney at Law and member of the House of Delegates, Williamsburg; Hugh C. Dischinger, Engineer, Hampton; J. W. Ferguson, Sr., Seafood Processor, Remlik; Walther B. Fidler, Attorney at Law and member of the House of Delegates, Sharps; William J. Hargis, Jr., Director, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point; Milton T. Hickman, Commissioner of Fisheries, Painter; H. R. Humphreys, Jr., Menhaden and Food Fish Processor, Kilmarnock; W. P. Hunt, Seafood Processor, Hampton; Robert P. Hutchinson, Outdoor Editor, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk; William P. Kellam, Insurance and Real Estate Business, and member of the Senate of Virginia, Virginia Beach; Chester F. Phelps, Executive Director, Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries, Richmond; Claude Rogers, Director, Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament, Virginia Beach; and Walter J. Wilkins, Retired Businessman and Sport Fisherman, Norfolk.

The Governor designated Mr. Fidler to serve as Chairman of the Commission.

At its organizational meeting the Commission elected Senator Ames as Vice-Chairman. G. M. Lapsley and Wildman S. Kincheloe, Jr., served as Secretary and Recording Secretary, respectively.

At the organizational meeting the Commission considered an outline of various subjects prepared in advance by the Chairman. The Commission decided upon its approach to the study of the problems before it including the holding of public hearings. Six public hearings at locations in Eastern and Central Virginia were held as follows: Virginia Beach, Hampton, Warsaw, Accomac, Gloucester and the city of Richmond. The Commission visited and inspected various facilities within and without the State and accumulated from State and federal agencies a vast amount of material related to Virginia's marine resources. The Commission conferred with marine scientists and representatives of angling clubs, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Water Pollution Control Commission, State Water Control Board, Virginia Department of Health, U.S. Coast Guard, Commission of Fisheries of Virginia, Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries, Department of Conservation and Economic Development, State Council of Higher Education, several State-supported colleges and universities, motor boating and yacht club associations, the National Council on Marine Resources and Engineering Development and the National Commission on Marine Science, Engineering and Resources. The Commission held many meetings and several subcommittees were appointed to make preliminary studies and reports to the Commission. The Commission thoroughly studied all of the material assembled, the reports of the subcommittees and all of the suggestions and recommendations made at the public hearings as well as recommendations of the individual members of the Commission.

Attached hereto as Appendix A is a review and summary of Virginia's marine resources and problems affecting them.