Review of the status of chemicals used in fisheries indicates that many lack proper registrations. Regulations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Food and Drug Administration require that all existing registrations be reviewed and reregistered by October 1977. Adequate data to support reregistration are lacking for some of the most widely used chemicals. Applications of unregistered compounds are strictly prohibited under penalty oflaw. Cancellation of existing registrations. high costs of research, high manpower requirements, and the long time required to complete adequate research contribute to a situation in which fishery workers may be deprived ofneeded management tools. All phases of fishery management are directly affected. The loss of therapeutants, anesthetics, herbicides, and piscicides will be reflected in lower hatchery production, fish of poorer quality, --and increased costs. Survival of fish that are in poor health when stocked will be reduced. Loss of the use of chemicals to reclaim or renovate lakes and streams will further reduce the success of stocking programs and increase management costs. Commercial producers may be unable to cope with disease and water quality problems. Researchers will be unable to maintain experimental animals in consistently uniform health or to obtain high quality stock without significant increases in cost. A significant increase in funding and research by Federal, State, and industrial agencies is required if the crisis is to be avoided.
