This week was officially proclaimed BIOS Week in Bermuda by Environment Minister Randolph Horton during a brief ceremony on the steps of the City Hall yesterday.

BIOS week was planned by the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences ? formerly the Bermuda Biological Station ? and is designed to enhance the public?s understanding of marine ecosystems, ocean/atmospheric interactions and ocean health.

During the reading of the official proclamation, Mr. Horton urged Bermudians to ?acknowledge the significance of the world?s oceans to our heritage and economy and assert our commitment to protecting them through intelligent stewardship and sensible management?.

He added: ?The need for conservation and protection of our precious marine environment is well recognised by ocean scientists all over the world.?

President and director of BIOS Dr. Tony Knap said the fact that Bermuda is a small dot in the Atlantic Ocean highlighted the need for increased awareness of the state of the oceans and humanity?s increasing negative impact on them.

He explained: ?BIOS week in Bermuda has been designed to educate the public on the significant marine research that is being undertaken in Bermuda as well as the things we can all do to protect our delicate ocean ecosystem for years to come.?

Activities for the week include visits by BIOS scientific faculty to a number of Bermuda?s middle schools and a public lecture on ?A Walk on the Deep Side? by Dr. Paul Tyler of Southampton University. The week will culminate with Marine Science Day on Saturday at the BIOS facility in St. George?s.

Tomorrow night?s lecture by Dr. Tyler will give underwater enthusiasts a chance to take an ?underwater walk? through the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico tomorrow night.

Dr. Tyler will take the audience through the Atlantic, the Sargasso Sea and before emerging in the Gulf of Mexico off the southern tip of Florida during his talk at BIOS.

The Professor of Deep-sea Biology at the University of Southampton?s National Oceanographic Centre will describe what the overall seascape looks like and how the deep-sea varies in each area, with the resulting difference of animal life found at various locations and depths.

The lecture is in Hanson Hall at BIOS? Ferry Reach facility at 7 p.m. It will be preceded by a cash bar at 6 p.m., and followed by a reception. Admission is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. For further information, call Vanessa Shorto at 297-1880 extension 204 or e-mail vshortobbsr.edu