Scientists warn against ocean fertilisation projects

A group of leading maritime scientists yesterday warned against the expansion of experiments to sow the oceans with chemicals designed to help soak up carbon dioxide, claiming such projects could lead to unknown and catastrophic environmental consequences.

The controversial idea hit the headlines earlier this month when it emerged the Philippines government had given permission to Australia-based Ocean Nourishment Corp (ONC) to dump 500 tons of urea into the Sulu Sea as part of an experiment to stimulate the growth of algal blooms and plankton that will absorb CO2 before dying and sinking to the bottom of the ocean, where the greenhouse gas will be trapped.

Similar projects using iron to increase algal growth are being considered and advocates of the approach argue it could provide a quick fix to climate change. However, the plans have prompted criticism from environmentalists who argued that the experiment could disrupt marine ecosystems, starve the oceans of oxygen and undermine the livelihoods of fishermen and local communities.

Now the 82 states signed up to the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) London Convention, or the tougher Protocol, governing ocean dumping have insisted they hold authority over such experiments and have voiced concerns that they "are currently not justified".

In a statement released yesterday, the signatories endorsed concerns expressed by the group's scientific panel that large-scale ocean fertilisation was not justified and that countries should exercise the "utmost caution" before approving any such projects.