Industry puts forth guidance on a 'fishery sensitive' approach to marine carbon dioxide removal
March 23, 2026 — With the launch of a set of guidance memos last week, the fishing industry established its leadership in a set of novel ocean-based climate interventions that could someday become one of the largest human activities in the ocean: marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR).
mCDR techniques are currently experimental; their effectiveness and environmental safety are yet to be firmly established. But against a backdrop of rising global temperatures and backpedaling on international climate commitments, these potential climate solutions are attracting increased attention. In just the last year, several field trials to test these methods at sea have been completed or planned.
The new guidance memos position the fishing industry at the center of mCDR planning from the very start, hoping to establish the industry’s standing as a must-consult constituency and showing that fishermen have indispensable knowledge for making sure this new field advances responsibly.