for Research this past year, it is understood.

Among them were two long-serving senior employees who will not be replaced and nearly all the staff in the financial department.

Since last November, ten staff members, including lab technicians and scientists had left, according to Bio Station Director Dr. Tony Knap.

But The Royal Gazette understands the number could be as high as 15.

Dr. Knap yesterday denied that any of the employees had been dissatisfied with conditions at the Bio Station, though he conceded there were currently some money worries.

"There is concern over the US (Clinton) Administration's response to the deficit,'' he said.

Funding for science programmes had been cut, he said, with ocean science projects receiving the lowest level of funding.

And the US National Science Foundation had tightened grants.

However, he pointed out that grants for some resident scientists to continue three important projects had just been approved.

The Bio Station was being cautious in response to the uncertainty over funding, he said.

"You never know what could happen with the US federal budget, there is certainly a downturn in science grants,'' he said. "We have to be prudent because we are not associated with any major university and we do not have any sort of block funding from the US Government or direct support from the Bermuda Government.'' Among the employees who recently quit were operations manager of 30 years Ms Margaret Emmott, assistant director of operations Mr. Harry Barnes, financial controller Mr. Tony Ryan, accountant Mr. Ian Pitcher and his assistant.

Accountant Mr. Mike Bouchard, Dr. Clay Cook and Dr. Sue Cook, who was assistant director, also resigned in the past year.

The Bio Station had gone through job restructuring, Dr. Knap said, with the new assistant director Mr. Bob Jones taking over the jobs of Ms Emmott and Mr.

Barnes.

Others who recently left included development officer Mrs. Chris Rathjen. It is understood the new public relations officer Mrs. Sheila Dempster is also leaving.

The Bio Station is currently advertising for a financial controller and an assistant accountant.

Dr. Knap said: "We have always had a reasonably high turn-over in staff because of the nature of the work. I don't believe any of them were unhappy.'' He said Mr. Barnes had taken a better position in Panama, while Mrs. Emmott left to run St. George's in the new post of Town Manager. Mr. Ryan returned to Canada, he said.

Dr. Knap said federal funding had been secured for the Bio Station's Global Ocean Flux Study, the Hydro-Station S. Programme. And for a new venture with NASA to get same-day satellite photographs of the world's oceans which would help in global warming studies.

A satellite dish would be installed at the Bio Station for that purpose, he said. NASA has only licensed a handful of stations to get such photographs, Dr. Knap said. Research stations without a licences must wait 14-days to get the photographs.

One concern, he said, was that fishing fleets getting hold of the photographs could spot lucrative fishing areas, placing them at advantage over others.

He added that one project there was concern over funding for was the Arabian Sea Experiment, he said, in which Bio Station scientists were involved in.