The world's first centre dedicated to the task of studying and combating sea pollution around developing countries could be established in Bermuda.

Prof. Michael Depledge, from Plymouth University, England, is currently on the Island for talks with Dr. Tony Knap, director of the Bermuda Biological Station for Research.

It is hoped the discussions will lead to setting up a Tropical Marine Eco-Toxicology Centre -- dedicated to controlling and studying pollution in developing countries.

Last night Prof. Depledge said: "The partnership with Bermuda is very important. This area is a major issue of concern that needs to be brought to the public's attention.'' Scientists predict that over the next 35 years the world's population will double -- with 90 percent of that increase taking place in developing countries around the tropics and sub-tropics.

But those countries tend to have fewer pollution controls -- allowing everything from cars to industrial pollutants to be dumped at sea.

About 2 billion people also rely on fish as a major source of food and pollution could affect stocks in coastal waters.

Under the plans being discussed, students from developing countries would study effects of pollution and its control in Plymouth.

They would then be sent to Bermuda -- a sub-tropical island -- to learn how to put theory into practice, before going back to their home countries to put their knowledge to use.

Prof. Depledge said he believed the Bermuda scheme would be the first of its kind in the world, although Plymouth University already has a large environmental research centre which he directs.

It is estimated $1 million is needed to kick-start the programme and up to $50 million will be needed to fund it for the next five or six years. Grants are being sought from international organisations.

"I have been working with Dr. Knap for a number of years and in the course of our work it has emerged that most of the problems in the future will be around the developing countries in the tropics and sub-tropics.

"The population growth will be huge in the developing countries and they do not have the developed countries' infrastructure for sewage or waste goods like cars,'' added Prof. Depledge. "It seems that because of the small labour costs manufacturers will also shift to these countries and there will be few controls.'' He added: "We hope to take students from developing countries and train them in eco-toxicology in Plymouth and then come to Bermuda to learn how to use various techniques in a real tropical environment.

"These people can then go back to their countries, find out what is happening and then do something about it in terms of controls, legislation and monitoring programmes.

"They can also conduct the right scientific research to evaluate the toxicity of the environment. We do not really know what the pollutants do in tropical systems.'' SCIENCE SCI