more seaweed

Carbon sequestering is the process of removing CO2 from the atmosphere and oceans and allocating it to long-term storages called reservoirs. Photosynthesis of ocean aquatic plants drives the oceanic biological CO2 pump, where CO2 from the atmosphere enters the ocean from the atmosphere. Greater than one-third of human-produced CO2 ends up in the ocean where it is introduced to the aquatic photosynthetic cycle. Locations with large collections of seaweed and algae act as carbon sinks, particularly in coastal regions where it is ideal for seaweed aquaculture. These coastal vegetation hot-spots represent less than 2% of the ocean surface, yet contribute close to half of the carbon burial in the coastal and global ocean however, more than 25% of the CO2 sink capacity of these ecosystems has been lost and the overall spread of these habitats is decreasing due to climate change and development.  These places are naturally proficient at carbon sequestering, so increase in seaweed farming on coastal regions would only increase the sequestering potential. Seaweeds are the most productive macrophytes, especially in relatively shallow, high light, coastal environments such as aquaculture farms. Their astounding ability to take in CO2 and convert it through photosynthesis results in forms of carbon which are far easier to sequester and break down, unlike the harmful buildup of carbonic acid.