Washington, D.C., U.S.A.-based nonprofit Ocean Visions recently launched a new knowledge platform on marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) that’s publicly available and aimed to give researchers, innovators, funders, policymakers, journalists, and stakeholders a hub to refer back to when working on mCDR-related projects.
The launch of the platform follows the July publication of Ocean Visions’ mCDR digital roadmap, which aims to identify trends and industry connections for utilizing already occurring resources in decarbonization efforts.
In a release, the organization said the goal of publishing the new mCDR program is to find avenues for investment and additional research and policymaking.
"As the mCDR field has grown, there are more actors, projects, data, and information,” Ocean Visions CEO Brad Ack said. “But until now, no central repository existed to make this ‘innovation ecosystem’ more visible and accessible. This user-friendly platform provides a single portal with an integrated view of the mCDR landscape, making critical information more accessible and transparent for this dynamic field.”
Ocean Visions clarified that the platform does not provide model results, scientific predictions, or conclusions on the impacts of mCDR but conducts research on the scientific notion that climate change and ocean acidification are having a “significant impact” on fisheries and can lead to issues such as declining stocks.
“Recent reports, including the United Nations Environment Program’s 2026 findings, confirm that CDR must be part of any credible path to limiting warming,” Ocean Visions told SeafoodSource. “Healthy fish stocks ultimately depend on healthy ocean ecosystems; however, we would be cautious about making direct claims that any [one] mCDR approach will have a particular benefit or adverse impact on fish stocks. This tool focuses instead on synthesizing the available information on mCDR research and trials so that we can make critical information more transparent in this dynamic field.”
The platform was published 1 October, merging and replacing the nonprofit’s mCDR Field Trial Database and mCDR Ecosystem Database, which were released in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The revamped platform includes interactive maps of past and present field trials with locations, downloadable graphs and figures, and a directory of nearly 300 mCDR personnel working in the space.
For fisheries in particular, Ocean Visions said one of the overarching goals of the platform is to connect researchers with fisheries managers and increase transparent communication when collaborating and decision-making take place.
When looking at fish stocks, for instance, the organization said the platform serves as a centralized resource for fisheries managers to see, analyze, and apply mCDR research data findings, as well as where future research is being conducted.
"The ocean is a complex space where diverse ocean users, sensitive ecological resources, and coastal communities intersect,” Ocean Visions said. “One of the most important impacts of this tool, with respect to fisheries, may be helping fisheries stakeholders better understand where activities are occurring, what is being studied, and who is already involved in this space. Fishers, seafood producers, fisheries organizations, and marine managers are deeply connected to ocean health and often have firsthand knowledge of changes occurring in marine ecosystems. That perspective is valuable for researchers, policymakers, and funders trying to understand how emerging ocean-climate solutions intersect with the environments and communities that depend on them.”
Ocean Visions added that input directly from fishing communities is crucial because firsthand knowledge of issues and successes can help shape research efforts earlier in the process, instead of as a response to already conducted research. By creating such a platform, Ocean Visions said it hopes that level of transparency aids more targeted research.
“We expect that, as interest in mCDR continues to grow, there will be increasing demand for accessible, trusted information about who is working in the field, where research is happening, and what questions are being studied,” Ocean Visions said. “The Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Knowledge Platform was designed to help meet that need. It provides a centralized resource for exploring mCDR organizations, pathways, projects, and field trials, making it easier for fisheries stakeholders to stay informed, track developments, identify areas of interest or concern, and participate in conversations about future research, governance, and management considerations.”
The platform will continue to be updated regularly as new research arises and environmental threats such as greenhouse gas pollution shift.
“Marine carbon dioxide removal holds significant promise, so it's important to understand who is doing what, where, when, and how,” Ocean Visions Program Officer Amelia-Juliette Demery said. “The mCDR Knowledge Platform helps answer key questions about the field’s activity and enables more rigorous and responsible research and decision-making."
