Towards the enhancement of biological production in the oceans

Abstract

Effective utilization of large potential productivity of the ocean's renewable biological resources is important for pursuing sustainable development of marine environment. The biological productivity and fisheries harvest of the ocean is dependent on net primary production, which could be limited by availability of macronutrients or, in some open-ocean region, micronutrients such as iron. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of the primary production in global marine ecosystems is essential to assess the feasibility of increasing the ocean harvest. Experimental approach such as the in situ iron enrichment experiment seems to be a strong tool to test the hypothesis on relationship between primary production and fish production. Using the ocean as a laboratory we can accumulate the knowledge of the ocean's global metabolism, which helps to ensure harmonious coexistence between nature and human beings.