Arshia Farmahini Farahani, Nika Kasraei

Farming phytoplankton has significant potential in addressing global warming and enriching marine
ecosystems. Moreover, phytoplankton is more or less the ocean's small powerhouse, with the ability to
sequester carbon, produce oxygen, and support food webs for marine ecosystems. To explore this
potential, we developed new cultivation techniques to increase phytoplankton populations in
nutrient-poor oceanic deserts and nutrient-rich upwelling zones through laboratory experiments and in
situ field observations. Consequently, both laboratory and in situ field observations revealed an evident
increase in phytoplankton biomass and carbon sequestration efficiency due to enhanced nutrient
enrichments 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 change
mitigation and marine ecosystem restoration. Case studies further demonstrate the successful application
of these techniques across a variety of marine environments, setting out lines for wider application. In
addition, the implications for sustainable fishery management, socioeconomic benefits for coastal
communities, ethical considerations, and the need for effective and collaborative governance are also
discussed. Ultimately, this work provides a body of knowledge essential for the sustainable management
of the ocean, offering actionable insights for scientists, policymakers, and practitioners committed to
progressing efforts in monitoring ocean health and marine conservation.
Keywords: Phytoplankton farming, Carbon Sequestration, marine ecosystems, climate change mitigation,
Nutrient Enrichment, Sustainable Fisheries, Ecological Restoration.