1980-81 Annual Sea Grant Report Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Over the years the Woods Hole Sea Grant Program has focused on the use and conservation of our marine resources and related marine policy aspects. Examples are the study of paralytic shellfish poisoning and the havoc it continues to play in coastal waters and measuring moveable bed roughness and sediment transport, information necessary in studying tidal inlets and coastal zone circulation. Within our aquaculture efforts we have continued our research into the suitability of hydrogen sulfide as a source of energy for the production of chemosynthetic bacterial biomass for direct use as food for shellfish. Hydrogen sulfide, at present, is a harmful waste material and any process that could turn it into a useful resource should be beneficial to all. The importance of coastal and ocean resources has long been a research theme at the Institution. The recent establishment of a Coastal Research Center has sharpened our interest in the scientific and policy aspects of the nearshore regions. Sea Grant has been especially valuable to us at Woods Hole and has helped us to develop and expand many new areas of research relative to our use and conservation of the marine environment. Grant no. NA80-AA-D-00077