January 16th 2009. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research has asked the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in the Helmholtz Association to hold the iron fertilisation experiment LOHAFEX until an independent, international third party produces a scientific evaluation of the potential environmental impact of the project. The reviewers will send the reports of this evaluation to the Federal Ministry of Education and Research which is in contact on this issue with the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. The Alfred Wegener Institute will only start the fertilisation if this evaluation does not produce any objections.

So far this is not causing any delay in the schedule of the work planned. Polarstern is presently on its way to the study area, an eddy northeast of South Georgia Island. During the course, it may examine other possible candidate eddies. Before the prospective start of the fertilisation, the most suitable eddy must be selected and thoroughly mapped to determine its characteristics and ensuring its stability. For this purpose, extensive physical, chemical and biological oceanographic data will be collected which will later form the basis for scientific analysis.

LOHAFEX involves fundamental scientific research in order to implement a German-Indian Memorandum of Understanding signed during the visit of the German Chancellor to India in October 2007. This research aims at a better understanding of the global carbon cycle and shall establish the foundation for a better assessment of the risks of iron fertilisation of the ocean. It might be that the results of the controlled fertilisation experiments may scientifically substantiate prohibition of large-scale, commercial iron fertilisation according to the recommendations of the Bonn Conference on the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). LOHAFEX thus differs fundamentally from the aims of private companies seeking commercial gain from ocean fertilisation through trade of carbon credits. Prior to the expedition, the internationally renowned marine scientists Prof. Dr Victor Smetacek and Dr Wajih Naqvi, co-chief scientists of the expedition, have already proposed to entrust an international advisory board under the United Nations system with the supervision of iron fertilisation, if and when it is accepted as a means of atmospheric carbon dioxide sequestration.

Here you can find the weekly reports from the Polarstern expedition...

Click here for the press release an LOHAFEX fom January 13th 2009...