In Competition For State Grant

Two groups interested in creatures of and from the sea are vying to assume responsibility for New York's stranded marine mammals and sea turtles program. On one hand, officials of the newly formed Coastal Research and Education Society, which has set up shop at Southampton College, believe the stage has been set for it to do so. On the other, directors of the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation, which has the contract now, say they expect their contract to be renewed.

The society was formed in December by former members of the Okeanos Ocean Research Foundation, including its former research director, Sam Sadove.

The society has stressed its association with the college and research capabilities in its proposal to win a three-year, $120,000 state contract. The award is expected to be made within two weeks.

Bankruptcy Petition

Mr. Sadove announced on Tuesday that he and other Okeanos creditors were petitioning the United States Bankruptcy Court in Hauppauge to force the nonprofit corporation into bankruptcy. Mr. Sadove said he was owed $88,000 in salary and benefits by Okeanos. The North Fork Bank is reportedly owed $590,000 excluding interest and penalties.

The Riverhead Foundation was created last fall to protect the stranding program when Okeanos itself, after Mr. Sadove had been fired, found itself with a reported $3 million in unpaid bills.

The foundation's directors characterize Okeanos as "disbanded," Mr. Sadove said on Tuesday. "You can't do that. They have . . . not filed for Chapter 11 or Chapter 7," he said, referring to the sections of Federal bankruptcy law that allow businesses in default to reorganize and to pay off creditors.

$40,000 Grant

However, Fred Towle Jr., a Suffolk County Legislator who is a spokesman for the Riverhead Foundation, said the group's finances were improving. It was announced on Friday that it had received a $40,000 grant from the State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Places "to support our education program and research," Mr. Towle said. "We were just given an Isuzu Trooper by Garsten Motors [and] $20,000 in contributions last month," he added.

Mr. Sadove charged that the $40,000 grant from the state was proof that the Riverhead Foundation was a front for the debt-laden Okeanos. He said that new organizations were not eligible for such grants for three years after their founding.

Mr. Sadove charged that the foundation would not be able to continue operating for long if Okeanos was formally disbanded because the state permits to conduct stranding operations and discharge wastewater from marine tanks into the Peconic River had been issued to Okeanos rather than the foundation.

Riverhead Support

Michael Tortorice, an adviser to the Riverhead Foundation, admitted the foundation was using Okeanos permits, but added that a request had been made to reissue the permits in the foundation's name.

"We will get the contract," Mr. Tortorice asserted on Tuesday.

Okeanos's troubles came to a head last October when Riverhead Town declared the nonprofit corporation in default on the $14,000-per-month rent it was supposed to pay for a town-owned parcel on East Main Street. The foundation was then formed, and received a $260,000 grant from the Riverhead Town Board to continue its operations.

Riverhead officials supported Okeanos, and then the Riverhead Foundation, in the hope that the organizations would build a world-class aquarium that would become a tourist attraction and improve the town's economy.

Other Endorsement

Mr. Tortorice said the foundation had an experienced staff, a facility, and the endorsement of the Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation of New York, otherwise known as the Coney Island Aquarium.

The Coney Island Aquarium itself had submitted a bid to take over the stranding work but had withdrawn it in support of the foundation after touring the Riverhead facility, Mr. Tortorice said.

Kenneth Zahler, president of the foundation, who was on vacation this week, has reportedly said that loss of the contract would not deter plans for a Riverhead aquarium.

On the other hand, Mr. Tortorice said on Tuesday that should the foundation lose the contract - a remote possibility in his view - "there will be no purpose for the foundation."

Seal Survey

Mr. Sadove was philosophical about the possibility of the new society's not winning the state contract. "If we don't get it, we will move ahead. There are a lot of other projects," including, he said, surveys of seal populations like the one he led last week on board one of the 20 boats of the Trade Winds Environmental Restoration company, which has offered to help the society.

"I saw something I've never seen before: 400 seals on the beach at Great Gull Island [between Fishers and Plum Islands] and a dozen adult grey seals - monsters," Mr. Sadove said.

"It almost looked like the pupping beaches of Sable Island, males and females. A possible reason there are fewer strandings this year is because this has become more of a core range of seal distribution, so there are fewer marginally healthy seals around."

Mr. Sadove said this type of "broader picture" was typical of what the new society could offer as the state contractor.

Improved Morale

Back at the Riverhead Foundation, Kim Durham, a biologist who was trained by Mr. Sadove, was busy on Tuesday transferring a 60-pound loggerhead turtle from the Riverhead facility to the Cornell Cooperative Extension Service's marine facility in Southold. The sea turtle, injured by a boat, outgrew its tank and was moved to larger digs to complete its recuperation.

Ms. Durham said she couldn't see how the state contract would not be awarded to her group.

"We have the vets, the staff. We're doing it," she said, adding that the recent contributions had improved the staff's morale.

Asked if she would consider joining forces with the Southampton group should it win the contract, Ms. Durham said, "No, I would look at it as an opportunity to move on. I know that the animals will be taken care of, and that's what's important."