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Canadian pollution research
Volume7/Number6/June 1976 spills than in 1974. The same trend was noted in the survey of oiled seabirds, compiled by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). More than 3000 birds were affected by a spill in Cromarty Firth last November.
A dolphin research centre is being established in Kerch, where experts will have an opportunity to ascertain peculiarities of the way of life and behaviour of these mammals. One of the tasks of the centre is to establish practical possibilities of using dolphins as assistants in submarine research.
North Sea Oil Recovery Four Norwegian companies have jointly developed a new system for the recovery of oil at sea, which would have particular relevance to the problem of dealing with a blowout on an offshore oil well or drilling rig. The system has three components, which have been developed through the pooled resources of the companies: (1) a mother ship, (2) a boom to collect the oil, and (3) a skimmer to remove the oil. The boom has been developed by A/S NOFI and Bendix Trading from a patent held by A/S Norsk Oljelense. It can be laid out like a purse seine and then be recovered by the mother ship. Thune-Eureka has developed a skimmer, based on a catamaran design for added stability. The four companies hope that the system will have particular relevance to the North Sea.
Marine Baseline Surveys Under Attack A recent article in New Scientist (70, 219-221, 29 April 1976) by John Gray of the Wellcome Marine Laboratory, Robin Hood's Bay, Yorkshire, adds further fuel to the fire on the topic of pollution indicators and baseline surveys of the marine environment. By coincidence, the editorial in Science(192, 509, 7 May 1976) also has something to say on this subject, but about impact statements in general. Baseline surveys and environmental impact assessment studies are a new growth industry, and most of the industrialized countries now undertake some sort of environmental survey before sanctioning the building of any large factories, power stations, refineries, etc. Dr Gray questions the validity of most surveys, querying the use of control areas, the types of organisms surveyed (usually the macrofauna), the identification of rare species, the use of diversity indices, and the idea of a universal pollution indicator. He suggests that there is still a very poor understanding of the factors determining the local stability of a species, and that many years of detailed studies are needed to draw any conclusions about a particular area, and the biological interactions taking place.
Black Sea Dolphins Census Soviet scientists have recently completed a census of dolphins in the Black Sea. The census, which was carried out by means of research vessels, enabled the scientists to establish the dolphin stock, determining the routes of dolphins' migration and their distribution in various parts of the Black Sea. At present there are about 900000 dolphins and the largest number are found near the Crimean coast. Since a ban on catching them was imposed in 1965 their number has increased five-fold.
Pollution-Frcc Fish Pump A Plymouth firm, D.A.M. Trawlers, have developed a system for pumping fish ashore from boats without damage to the fish, and without causing pollution. Other fish pumping systems require that the fish hold be filled with water, and this can cause contamination of the fish from dock water, and can also cause contamination of the sea when the water, contaminated with fish offal, is pumped overboard. The system uses a vacuum pump to evacuate a large steel cylinder, which will hold up to l0 cwt of fish. The cylinder is connected by a flexible pipe which is put in the boat's hold. The fish are sucked into the cylinder until it is full, and a valve then shuts off the vacuum and the cylinder is emptied into a hopper or lorry. The system has been successfully used for mackerel and pilchards so far, but it is hoped to try it out on queen scallops later this year.
North Sea Offshore Technology The second biennual Offshore North Sea Technology Conference and Exhibition is to be held in Stavanger, Norway from 21-24 September 1976. There will be sessions on the Economy, Law, Energy and Marketing of Oil; The Technology of Oil Exploration and Drilling, Field Development and Transportation; Exploration Geology and Geophysics; and Safety and Environmental Protection. An exhibition of offshore equipment and services will be held at the same time. For further details write to" ONS 76, PO Box 410, 4001 Stavanger, Norway.
Canadian Pollution Research Environmental Secretariat of the Associate Committee on Scientific Criteria Quality, set up by the National Research Council of Canada have compiled and published a report which provides a comprehensive listing of workers in Canada engaged in pollution-relevant research, development, abatement, management, control, etc. (1976) In ven tory o f Pollution-Relevant Research in Canada. Volumes 3 & 4. 558 pp. Ottawa, National Research Council Canada. (NRCC 14108) Price: $6.50. It completes a survey (the first part of which was published in 1972) of the entire Canadian scientific community and is based exclusively upon material provided by the scientists themselves. The inventory also identifies their areas of interest and expertise, describing as well the nature of their projects. The publication complements the 1972 Interim Report and follows the same format. All the information is cross-referenced alphabetically by author and by subject. 101
A dolphin research centre is being established in Kerch, where experts will have an opportunity to ascertain peculiarities of the way of life and behaviour of these mammals. One of the tasks of the centre is to establish practical possibilities of using dolphins as assistants in submarine research.
North Sea Oil Recovery Four Norwegian companies have jointly developed a new system for the recovery of oil at sea, which would have particular relevance to the problem of dealing with a blowout on an offshore oil well or drilling rig. The system has three components, which have been developed through the pooled resources of the companies: (1) a mother ship, (2) a boom to collect the oil, and (3) a skimmer to remove the oil. The boom has been developed by A/S NOFI and Bendix Trading from a patent held by A/S Norsk Oljelense. It can be laid out like a purse seine and then be recovered by the mother ship. Thune-Eureka has developed a skimmer, based on a catamaran design for added stability. The four companies hope that the system will have particular relevance to the North Sea.
Marine Baseline Surveys Under Attack A recent article in New Scientist (70, 219-221, 29 April 1976) by John Gray of the Wellcome Marine Laboratory, Robin Hood's Bay, Yorkshire, adds further fuel to the fire on the topic of pollution indicators and baseline surveys of the marine environment. By coincidence, the editorial in Science(192, 509, 7 May 1976) also has something to say on this subject, but about impact statements in general. Baseline surveys and environmental impact assessment studies are a new growth industry, and most of the industrialized countries now undertake some sort of environmental survey before sanctioning the building of any large factories, power stations, refineries, etc. Dr Gray questions the validity of most surveys, querying the use of control areas, the types of organisms surveyed (usually the macrofauna), the identification of rare species, the use of diversity indices, and the idea of a universal pollution indicator. He suggests that there is still a very poor understanding of the factors determining the local stability of a species, and that many years of detailed studies are needed to draw any conclusions about a particular area, and the biological interactions taking place.
Black Sea Dolphins Census Soviet scientists have recently completed a census of dolphins in the Black Sea. The census, which was carried out by means of research vessels, enabled the scientists to establish the dolphin stock, determining the routes of dolphins' migration and their distribution in various parts of the Black Sea. At present there are about 900000 dolphins and the largest number are found near the Crimean coast. Since a ban on catching them was imposed in 1965 their number has increased five-fold.
Pollution-Frcc Fish Pump A Plymouth firm, D.A.M. Trawlers, have developed a system for pumping fish ashore from boats without damage to the fish, and without causing pollution. Other fish pumping systems require that the fish hold be filled with water, and this can cause contamination of the fish from dock water, and can also cause contamination of the sea when the water, contaminated with fish offal, is pumped overboard. The system uses a vacuum pump to evacuate a large steel cylinder, which will hold up to l0 cwt of fish. The cylinder is connected by a flexible pipe which is put in the boat's hold. The fish are sucked into the cylinder until it is full, and a valve then shuts off the vacuum and the cylinder is emptied into a hopper or lorry. The system has been successfully used for mackerel and pilchards so far, but it is hoped to try it out on queen scallops later this year.
North Sea Offshore Technology The second biennual Offshore North Sea Technology Conference and Exhibition is to be held in Stavanger, Norway from 21-24 September 1976. There will be sessions on the Economy, Law, Energy and Marketing of Oil; The Technology of Oil Exploration and Drilling, Field Development and Transportation; Exploration Geology and Geophysics; and Safety and Environmental Protection. An exhibition of offshore equipment and services will be held at the same time. For further details write to" ONS 76, PO Box 410, 4001 Stavanger, Norway.
Canadian Pollution Research Environmental Secretariat of the Associate Committee on Scientific Criteria Quality, set up by the National Research Council of Canada have compiled and published a report which provides a comprehensive listing of workers in Canada engaged in pollution-relevant research, development, abatement, management, control, etc. (1976) In ven tory o f Pollution-Relevant Research in Canada. Volumes 3 & 4. 558 pp. Ottawa, National Research Council Canada. (NRCC 14108) Price: $6.50. It completes a survey (the first part of which was published in 1972) of the entire Canadian scientific community and is based exclusively upon material provided by the scientists themselves. The inventory also identifies their areas of interest and expertise, describing as well the nature of their projects. The publication complements the 1972 Interim Report and follows the same format. All the information is cross-referenced alphabetically by author and by subject. 101