December 23, 2024

US-based scientists explore fish farms as cost-effective carbon capture model

US-based scientists are investigating a new approach to carbon capture in low-oxygen aquatic environments, such as fisheries, to combat rising global temperatures.

The model, which could prove to be cost-effective, was detailed in a recent study published in Nature Food.

Lead researcher Mojtaba Fakhraee, an assistant professor of earth sciences, collaborated with Noah Planavsky, professor of Earth and planetary sciences at Yale University, to develop the model. Fakhraee, who will begin his appointment at the University of Connecticut in August 2025, explained that the study focused on fish farms because they are directly impacted by human activities, making them suitable locations for carbon capture while also addressing toxic sulphide concentrations.

The researchers' model demonstrates that adding iron to these environments facilitates reactions with accumulated hydrogen sulphide, increasing alkalinity. This process raises carbonate saturation levels, enhancing the capture of CO2 from the surrounding environment.

The study highlights the potential for significant impact in countries such as China and Indonesia, where fish farms are prevalent. The researchers estimate that China alone could remove nearly 100 million metric tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere annually using this method.

Fakhraee emphasized that this model would benefit fish farms by reducing the toxicity caused by hydrogen sulphide buildup. Toxic conditions often lead to higher fish mortality rates or render fish unfit for sale. By mitigating these conditions, fish farms could see larger populations and more sustainable, profitable operations.

This method also offers a long-term solution for carbon storage. Fakhraee noted that the carbon captured through this model would remain stored for thousands of years, significantly outlasting the lifespan of CO2 in the atmosphere.

-      Marine Technology News