Seeding the Oceans with Iron

Many of our major scientific breakthroughs occurred when an alert scientist noticed an odd consequence while researching something else. Iron seeding may not sequester iron efficiently,1 but it may add something as important.Since plankton is the bottom of the food chain in the ocean, wherever it blooms, the rest of the food chain could rapidly bloom. A regional fishing industry could "fertilize" their part of the ocean with ferrous sulfate and then seed it with the desired food chain up to thei

Written byPhillip Nelson
| 1 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
1:00
Share

Many of our major scientific breakthroughs occurred when an alert scientist noticed an odd consequence while researching something else. Iron seeding may not sequester iron efficiently,1 but it may add something as important.

Since plankton is the bottom of the food chain in the ocean, wherever it blooms, the rest of the food chain could rapidly bloom. A regional fishing industry could "fertilize" their part of the ocean with ferrous sulfate and then seed it with the desired food chain up to their target fish. Ocean currents, territorial waters, the availability of ocean cilicic acid, and the optimal rate and extent of "iron fertilization" would all need to be considered.

Locally, this would enrich and sustain the fishing industry. Globally, this would be a boon to humanity, by feeding the world and contributing towards reducing the carbon dioxide greenhouse gas effect.

Phillip Nelson, PhD penelson@comcast.com

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to digital editions of The Scientist, as well as TS Digest, feature stories, more than 35 years of archives, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Meet the Author

Published In

Share
Illustration of a developing fetus surrounded by a clear fluid with a subtle yellow tinge, representing amniotic fluid.
January 2026, Issue 1

What Is the Amniotic Fluid Composed of?

The liquid world of fetal development provides a rich source of nutrition and protection tailored to meet the needs of the growing fetus.

View this Issue
Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Unchained Labs
Graphic of three DNA helices in various colors

An Automated DNA-to-Data Framework for Production-Scale Sequencing

illumina
Exploring Cellular Organization with Spatial Proteomics

Exploring Cellular Organization with Spatial Proteomics

Abstract illustration of spheres with multiple layers, representing endoderm, ectoderm, and mesoderm derived organoids

Organoid Origins and How to Grow Them

Thermo Fisher Logo

Products

Brandtech Logo

BRANDTECH Scientific Introduces the Transferpette® pro Micropipette: A New Twist on Comfort and Control

Biotium Logo

Biotium Launches GlycoLiner™ Cell Surface Glycoprotein Labeling Kits for Rapid and Selective Cell Surface Imaging

Colorful abstract spiral dot pattern on a black background

Thermo Scientific X and S Series General Purpose Centrifuges

Thermo Fisher Logo
Abstract background with red and blue laser lights

VANTAstar Flexible microplate reader with simplified workflows

BMG LABTECH