USE OF THE OYSTER CRASSOSTREA-GIGAS EMBRYO BIOASSAY ON WATER AND SEDIMENT ELUTRIATE SAMPLES FROM THE GERMAN BIGHT

Oyster embryo bioassays were carried out on samples of sub-surface water, surface microlayer and sediment elutriates collected during the Bremerhaven Workshop from 9 stations along a transect from the inner German Bight to the Dogger Bank. The results gave no indication of poor water quality in the surface waters. Oyster embryo development was impaired in 2 of the 4 surface microlayer samples and in the sediment elutriate samples from the 3 inner stations.