The grounding of the tanker V.L.C.C. Metula in the Straits of Magellan in August 1974 provided a unique opportunity to study a massive spill in a cold region on a long-term basis. Removal of spilled oil from the Metula was solely by in situ physiochemical and biological mechanisms. Microbiological studies undertaken in May 1976 showed increased heterotrophic bacterial populations at oil-impacted sites. A cold-tolerant population of petroleum degrading bacteria was observed. From biodegradation studies, we concluded that oil degradation under in situ conditions proceeds relatively slowly, with marked persistence of Metula oil in the Straits of Magellan 2 yr after the original spill. Key words: petroleum degradation, oil spills, Straits of Magellan, microbial degradation of oil, Metula

A simple bacteriological analysis for accompanying culturable microflora from different regions of the body of Argopecten purpuratus showed a rather atypical bacteria considering that farming is done in the seawater column. High numbers of Vibrio strains, Gram-positive cocci, and sporeformers were present. Also members of the Enterobacteriaceae family were isolated.

Twenty three strains of bacteria were isolated from the hemolymph of Argopecten purpuratus. Our results point out to the predominance of asporogenous Gram-negative rods. We suggest that the presence of these bacteria in the hemolymph is a natural phenomenon.

SUMMARY— The bacterial flora of the intestinal content of cod (Gedus morrhua L) were investigated during a period of 1 year. The quantity of bacteria in recently caught fish was studied during the full period. the quality during only 6 months. 3 groups of fish from the same capture and fishing grounds were analyzed: fresh, and stored at 1–2°C for 5 and 10 days. It was seen that in general gram‐positive bacterial flora dominated in recently caught fish, while after 5 and 10 days of storage gram‐negative flora our numbered the former. In the intestinal contents of fresh fish the Vibrio species dominated, whereas at storage, Pseudomonas spp. became dominant. In fresh fish, the bacterial flora of stored fish amounted to 3.10% of the total initial quantity after 5 days of storage and 1.5% after 10 days. Also, the gram‐positive flora decreased comparatively more rapidly than gram‐negative flora. The authors believe that the temperature of 1–27°C may play a part in the decreasing number of flora, as well as some other factors not investigated in the present research.