Deep-ocean seaweed dumping is not an ecological, economical, or ethical answer to climate-change mitigation via carbon “sequestration.” Without sound science and sufficient knowledge on impacts to these fragile ecosystems, it distracts from more rational and effective blue-carbon interventions. We call for a moratorium on sinking seaweeds to deep-ocean ecosystems until its efficacy is established, and there is robust, evidence-based assessment of its environmental, economic, and societal sustainability.
Citation: Chopin, T., B. A. Costa-Pierce, M. Troell, C. L. Hurd, M. J. Costello, S. Backman, A. H. Buschmann, R. Cuhel, C. M. Duarte, F. Gröndahl, K. Heasman, R. J. Haroun, J. Johansen, A. Jueterbock, M. Lench, S. Lindell, H. Pavia, A. M. Ricart, K. S. Sundell, and C. Yarish 2024 Deep-ocean seaweed dumping for carbon sequestration: Questionable, risky, and not the best use of valuable biomass One Earth 7(3):359-364