Quantifying Carbon Sequestration and Ecosystem Enhancement Through Novel Phytoplankton Farming Techniques

Farming phytoplankton has significant potential in addressing global warming and enriching marineecosystems. Moreover, phytoplankton is more or less the ocean's small powerhouse, with the ability tosequester carbon, produce oxygen, and support food webs for marine ecosystems. To explore thispotential, we developed new cultivation techniques to increase phytoplankton populations innutrient-poor oceanic deserts and nutrient-rich upwelling zones through laboratory experiments and insitu field observations. Consequently, both laboratory and in situ field observations revealed an evidentincrease in phytoplankton biomass and carbon sequestration efficiency due to enhanced nutrientenrichments with iron. Furthermore, this paper establishes that, if appropriately developed and scaled up,phytoplankton farming may just be one of the game-changing tools toward global climate changemitigation and marine ecosystem restoration. Case studies further demonstrate the successful applicationof these techniques across a variety of marine environments, setting out lines for wider application. Inaddition, the implications for sustainable fishery management, socioeconomic benefits for coastalcommunities, ethical considerations, and the need for effective and collaborative governance are alsodiscussed. Ultimately, this work provides a body of knowledge essential for the sustainable managementof the ocean, offering actionable insights for scientists, policymakers, and practitioners committed toprogressing efforts in monitoring ocean health and marine conservation.Keywords: Phytoplankton farming, Carbon Sequestration, marine ecosystems, climate change mitigation,Nutrient Enrichment, Sustainable Fisheries, Ecological Restoration.