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October 16, 2012

Report: U.S. Businessman Launches Risky Geoengineering Venture in Pacific Ocean 
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The Guardian reports a U.S. businessman has dumped about 100 metric tons
of iron sulphate into the ocean off the Canadian coast as part of a
risky for-profit geoengineering venture that appears to violate two
international resolutions. California businessman Russ George dumped the
iron to spark an artificial plankton bloom that now appears to stretch
up to 10,000 square kilometers. The plankton is supposed to absorb
carbon dioxide as part of a controversial tactic called "ocean
fertilization" that could produce profitable carbon credits. But
scientists have raised concerns the process could irreparably damage
ocean life and might even worsen global warming. George has previously
failed to conduct similar dumps near the Galápagos and Canary Islands,
prompting the Spanish and Ecuadorean governments to bar his vessels. The
recent dump happened in July off the west coast of Canada, where the
head of the local Haida Nation said it was touted as a "salmon
enhancement project." The Haida Nation president said the local people
would have rejected the project if they had known of any potential
negative consequences to the ocean.

 

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