director of the Bermuda Biological Station, Dr. Anthony Knap claimed yesterday.

Referring to the recent reports by two scientists, Dr. Knap said although they approached the subject differently, Dr. Martin Thomas and Miss Joanna Ellison reached the same basic conclusion.

And he moved to clear up a perception that the two's findings were "totally opposite.'' "Both are saying it's extremely sensitive and a very important area for Bermuda and has to be managed in the best way we can manage it,'' he pointed out. "He has been looking at it from a biological viewpoint and she's been looking at its sedimentary record ... its history and the future of the sediments of the area. He has been looking at transects of biological organisms and she hasn't.'' In his study of the Devonshire swamp, Dr. Thomas, a member of the marine research group at the University of New Brunswick, found it to be "in generally excellent condition.'' However, a two-year study completed earlier this year by Miss Ellison, an intern at the Bermuda Biological Station, concluded the swamp was dying due to natural deterioration, human mistreatment and indifference on the part of Government.

"They both agree that the area should be managed well and taken care of,'' Dr. Knap explained. "Both agree there has been some erosion of the mangrove.

Joanna Ellison was away for the Earth Summit as a United Nations representative and it's unfortunate that she couldn't be here at the same time as Martin Thomas to discuss it with him.

"Each give reasons how they came up with a management plan for the area.

They're two different discussions but I'm sure if they got together they would each agree.''