[Variation of ecological status of Norwegian Sea water determined from hydrolytic enzyme activities].

The capacity of biopolymer transformation involving efficient and highly specific natural enzyme mechanisms was studied in seawater of the dynamic zone of the Norwegian Sea (the Voring Plateau region). Vertical and spatial variation of proteinase and amylase activities was demonstrated in seawater and the potential rates of degradation of specific substrates, azocasein and Procion-5CX-modified starch, were calculated. High proteolytic activity was demonstrated for the upper photic layer (0-10 m) in the southwestern part of the polygon (up to 88 U/l; v(pr) = 7.