ANCIENT coral reefs containing rich bio-diversity in the north Atlantic are being threatened due to deep sea drilling by oilcompanies. Marine scientists are concerned that the oil industry is trying toexploit an area off northwest Scotlandknown as the Atlantic Frontier evenbefore biological surveys are completed.British Petroleum of the UK is expectedto start producing oil later this year.Scientists feel that this would impedetheir survey which is likely to take abouttwo years. The Frontier contains a rarecoldwater coral, Lophelia pertusa, whichscientists believe could shelter as manyfish and other species as tropical corals.The Scottish Association for MarineScience, based in Dunstaffnage, is carrying out a us $2.7-million study of theenvironmental impact of oil explorationin the Atlantic Frontier.