The Secretary of Commerce is authorized and directed to conduct such fishing explorations and such necessary related work as oceanographical, biological, technological, statistical, and economic studies to insure maximum development and utilization of the high seas fishery resources of the United States and its island possessions in the tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean and intervening areas as may be consistent with developing and sustaining such fishery resources at maximum levels of production in perpetuity and to provide for the best possible utilization thereof.