Seaweed study

current. Centres of pollution have been detected off the southern coast of Newfoundland and the Florida coast.' The coastal waters of western Ireland and Portugal have been found to contain excessive concentrations of mercury in their upper layers. Mercury has also been detected in eastern and central parts of the north Atlantic current, and there is evidence that phytoplankton are dying fast in those areas containing high concentrations of the metal. Although two international conventions to prevent pollution of the sea have been adopted in the past two years, Mr Yushchak stresses that there are still many outstanding problems. He proposes the establishment of a global system of exploration of the oceans, which would pay particular attention to the increasing discharge of oil and oil products. The exchange of energy, water and gases between ocean and atmosphere can be greatly disturbed by oil film. This is of particular significance to the formation of climate and to the production of the world's oxygen supply, since large expanses of water play a major part in the two processes.

Scottish Pollution Survey A team of biologists at Paisley College of Technology's Biology Department in Scotland, is to study the state of Scotland's principal rivers (outside the areas of the River Purification Boards). The department will work in conjunction with teams from the Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory, Pitlochry; the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (Wetlands Research Group), Edinburgh; and the River Purification Boards. The investigation has been financed by the Scottish Development Department, who will also finance the six month survey. The study forms part of a larger survey intended to provide detailed information concerning the chemical composition and biological state of Scotland's rivers. Such information is expected to enable conservationists to forecast changes in the biological conditions of rivers, to gauge their degree of pollution, and to take action to remedy the situation. Publication of the results by the Scottish Development Department early in 1975 will form a sequel to the Department's earlier report on river pollution, Towards Cleaner Water, published in 1972 and based on information supplied by the River Purification Boards.

New Oil Industry Association Representatives of many leading oil companies and oil industry associations, meeting in London in March, have agreed to set up the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA). The purpose of the association is to establish liaison with, and to put forward the views of its members to, the United Nations Environmental Program, and to other international organizations concerned with environmental protection. It is also intended to provide a readily available source of environmental information on the industry. Fifteen enterprises, representing a major part of the worldwide industry, and four associations have already joined. Others in both categories have stated that they will do so. 68

Membership is open to any private, public or government-owned enterprise which has international operations or interests in the production, transportation or refinement of petroleum; and to any industry association with environmental interests in these aspects of the oil industry. Mr Maurice Strong, Executive Director of the U N Environmental Program, has welcomed the initiative.

Seaweed Study An investigation which will help to increase our knowledge of the biology of the brown seaweed, Ectocarpus siliculosus, has been initiated by the Department of Botany at the University of Liverpool, to take place over the next three years. This particular seaweed fouls ships hulls, and can adapt to a wide range of habitats, both natural and man-made. Dr G. Russell will be responsible for the research in the department, which has received the support of a grant of £6,408 from the National Environmental Research Council. Other departments, in particular the Department of Oceanography, in the University will participate in the research. Dr Russell will examine copper-resistant strains of Ectocarpus occurring naturally on the certain parts of the coastline where the rocks are rich in copper, including a site adjacent to old copper mine working on the Isle of Man. The ability of these strains to migrate to environments less rich in copper, and their success in various habitats, will also be assessed. The research team will also attempt to discover how the plant adapts to estuarine and polluted habitats such as the River Mersey, and will investigate the survival rate of plants from unpolluted sources when subjected to such extreme conditions. It is intended that a collection should be acquired of different strains of Ectocarpus growing in the laboratory; these would then be used to measure the effects of polluted marine and estuarine waters from other localities.

Marine Pollution Research Titles Scientists and technologists who have had problems in trying to keep up with the literature on marine and estuarine pollution, will be glad to hear of a new service provided by the Marine Pollution Information Centre at Plymouth. The centre, sponsored by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), is to publish a new journal, Marine Pollution Research Titles, starting in August, 1974. For a long time it has been felt that there was a need for a service providing references to a larger portion of the world literature than is presently available from other abstract or reference services. The new publication, to be produced monthly, will include references to the 2,000+ rifles on marine and estuarine pollution published each year. It will be divided into the following sections: (1) General--general discussions on marine and estuarine pollution, or papers where several pollutants are discussed; (2) Detection-includes remote sensing, pollution indicators, and monitoring systems, (detection of a specific pollutant is included under that pollutant); (3) Analysis--includes mathematical models, experimental methods and equip-