Abstract: The effects of pollution in an aquatic mass may be monitored by measuring changes in various parameters of sessile organisms, particularly bivalves such as mussels. Particular parameters measured include particle clearance rate, oxygen consumption and apical growth.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the effect of pollution in an aquatic mass, said method comprising disposing in said aquatic mass a biosensor unit containing a living sessile organism which exhibits apical growth and which is bound to a carrier, directing an electromagnetic beam towards a corresponding detector and between an edge and the apical tip of said sessile organism whereby to produce a diffraction pattern, detecting said diffraction pattern using said detector and monitoring a change (e.g. successive changes) in said diffraction pattern over time which is indicative of the natural growth of the apical tip of said organism.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting seawater contamination from an offshore hydrocarbon well facility comprising seabed wellheads connected by hydrocarbon conduits to a seabed pipeline head from which a hydrocarbon pipeline leads to a remote hydrocarbon receiving facility, each said wellhead being provided with a protective cover to which is removably attached a sensor unit, each said sensor unit comprising a biological sensor and a data transmitter coupled by a data transmission line to said remote facility, said well facility further comprising a seawater velocity sensor, a seawater conductivity sensor and a temperature sensor also coupled by a data transmission line, wherein data from said data transmission line is analysed to determine indicia of seawater contamination at said well facility and of the seawater flow at said well facility and thereby to provide a signal indicative of seawater contamination above a preselected limit deriving from said well facility.

Abstract: The effects of pollution in an aquatic mass may be monitored by measuring changes in various parameters of sessile organisms, particularly bivalves such as mussels. Particular parameters measured include particle clearance rate, oxygen consumption and apical growth.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the effect of pollution in an aquatic mass, said method comprising disposing in said aquatic mass a biosensor unit containing a living sessile organism which exhibits apical growth and which is bound to a carrier, directing an electromagnetic beam towards a corresponding detector and between an edge and the apical tip of said sessile organism whereby to produce a diffraction pattern, detecting said diffraction pattern using said detector and monitoring a change (e.g. successive changes) in said diffraction pattern over time which is indicative of the natural growth of the apical tip of said organism.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting seawater contamination from an offshore hydrocarbon well facility comprising seabed wellheads connected by hydrocarbon conduits to a seabed pipeline head from which a hydrocarbon pipeline leads to a remote hydrocarbon receiving facility, each said wellhead being provided with a protective cover to which is removably attached a sensor unit, each said sensor unit comprising a biological sensor and a data transmitter coupled by a data transmission line to said remote facility, said well facility further comprising a seawater velocity sensor, a seawater conductivity sensor and a temperature sensor also coupled by a data transmission line, wherein data from said data transmission line is analysed to determine indicia of seawater contamination at said well facility and of the seawater flow at said well facility and thereby to provide a signal indicative of seawater contamination above a preselected limit deriving from said well facility.