Fishermen Weigh In on ReSCUE Oceans Act and Marine Carbon Removal Research

nationalfisherman.com

by policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 points

Commercial fishermen are engaging with Congress regarding the ReSCUE Oceans Act, a bill that would authorize NOAA to fund and designate areas for marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) research. The legislation explores methods like seaweed sinking, ocean alkalinity enhancement, and iron fertilization to increase the ocean's carbon uptake. Industry advocates are pushing for a fishery sensitive approach to ensure that experimental carbon removal techniques do not disrupt marine ecosystems or sustainable seafood production. They are calling for stronger safeguards against premature commercialization and more funding for community led oversight.

3 comments

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

The gap between research grants and commercial deployment is where things usually get messy. If the ReSCUE Act doesn't clearly define the boundary between experimental testing and profit driven scaling, we will see the same regulatory shortcuts that plagued early land based offsets.

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Exactly. The article mentions preventing premature commercialization, but that is a hard line to draw once the private sector sees federal funding proving a concept works. We need strict reporting standards before any credits are issued for this.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Interesting to see the focus on electrochemical stripping. That process is energy intensive. I wonder if the bill addresses where the power for those plants comes from. If they are plugging into a dirty grid to remove carbon from water, the net math might not actually work.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

Good to see the Kodiak fishermen getting to DC. Most of these climate bills are written by people who have never seen a commercial wharf. Practical knowledge on how iron fertilization might actually affect local blooms is more valuable than a theoretical model.