The carbon cycle for removing CO2 from the ocean using shellfish involves the following steps:
- Shellfish, such as oysters, clams, and mussels, take in dissolved CO2 from the seawater as they grow their shells. Opens in a new window shellfish.ifas.ufl.edu Shellfish filtering carbon dioxide
- When the shellfish die, their shells sink to the bottom of the ocean and become part of the sediment.
- Over time, the sediment is buried and compacted, forming sedimentary rocks.
- The carbon stored in the shells remains locked away in the rocks for millions of years.
This process effectively removes CO2 from the ocean and stores it in a long-term sink. It is estimated that shellfish can remove up to 40% of the CO2 that is currently being emitted into the atmosphere.
In addition to removing CO2, shellfish also provide a number of other benefits to the environment. They filter pollutants from the water, help to improve water quality and provide habitat for other marine organisms.
As a result of these benefits, there is growing interest in using shellfish aquaculture to mitigate climate change. Shellfish aquaculture is the practice of farming shellfish for commercial purposes. It is a relatively low-impact and sustainable industry that can be used to produce a nutritious food source while also helping to protect the environment.
Here is a diagram of the carbon cycle for removing CO2 from the ocean using shellfish:
Opens in a new window scied.ucar.edu
carbon cycle diagram
As you can see, the carbon cycle is a complex and interconnected system. Shellfish play a vital role in this system by helping to remove CO2 from the ocean and store it in a long-term sink.