The Enhancement of Marine Productivity for Climate Stabilization and Food Security

Ocean fertilization offers the prospect of addressing two of the current pressing problems facing the global community. Macronutrient addition to 70% of the surface ocean where it is found in limiting concentrations is expected to stimulate the ocean biological carbon pump. Technological intervention can simultaneously sequester carbon from the atmosphere and increase the sustainable supply of marine protein. A summary is provided of the major issues surrounding the technology including: potential benefits, implementation, environmental risk, cost, and societal values. The alternative idea of providing the micronutrient iron is considered and found to have disadvantages. Carbon credits could fund the implementation of fertilization while providing increased fish stocks to contribute food security for the rising population. This collateral benefit could be directed to provide economical protein for the world's malnourished poor. The risks need to be compared to the costs of not acting to mitigate climate change, and the environmental risk of increasing food production on the land to cope with a rising global population.