Coastal climate change experiment pulled from Vineyard waters

Scientists cite concern with offshore wind developments.

By
Hayley Duffy
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A team from WHOI released a dye, Rhodamine WT, into waters south of Cape Cod to test the scientists' ability to label a patch of water in August 2023. —Jack Gentempo

A novel experiment proposed to study ways to slow climate change through dumping thousands of gallons of sodium hydroxide into waters less than 10 miles from Nomans Land won’t take place near the Island after all.

Scientists with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, or WHOI, are now revising their permit request, and instead pursuing plans for the Gulf of Maine.

The team with the so-called the LOC-NESS project (also known as Locking away Ocean Carbon in the Northeast Shelf and Slope) originally applied for two ocean-dumping permits to test the effectiveness and environmental impact of ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), a climate solution technique using lye to increase the ocean’s natural ability to remove carbon from the atmosphere.

The plan was twofold. The first phase was to test the gradual release of 6,600 gallons of sodium hydroxide solution about 9.5 miles south of Nomans Land over 90 minutes, planned for last August; then do the same in the Gulf of Maine this summer on a larger scale.

But when the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, extended the comment period for the permit application, WHOI pushed back plans as it awaited final approval. The institute then lost access to its research vessel, and planned to reschedule for the upcoming summer.

WHOI recently announced that the project plans to pursue a revised permit for this summer to dump up to around 17,000 gallons, instead of the original proposed 66,000 gallons, in the Gulf of Maine.

Adam Subhas, lead researcher on the project, told the Boston Globe that the recent offshore wind developments made the project too difficult.

The LOC-NESS experiment has raised concerns for local and regional environmental and fishery groups, many suggesting that the experiment posed risks to marine life.

“We are excited at the prospect of moving forward with our research to impartially evaluate the effectiveness and environmental impact of OAE, and we’ve continued to engage and consult commercial and recreational fishers, indigenous communities, and the general public throughout this process,” Subhas is quoted in a recent press release. “If we are going to prevent the worst effects of climate change, which is already causing the ocean to change at unprecedented rates here in New England and around the world, we need independent, transparent science to determine which solutions work, and which don’t.”

The revised plan, WHOI said, would take place farther north at a location that minimizes the environmental impact to marine life and fishing activities.

The new comment period for the revised permit application, announced by the EPA, extends to Feb. 15.

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3 COMMENTS

  1. Just like many of these “experiments” or projects , the original information made to the public never mention of any risk involved to the surrounding environment or species.
    It’s only after the fact ,that we learn of the negatives. Just like WHOI is now studying Mono pile driving noise affects on many different species, some have been proven to die off (sea scallops) ,others scatter or develop weakened systems.

    WHOI is now moving the experiment north to ” minimize the threat the environment or fishermen” , what , I thought this experiment was safe?

    Keep your experiments to the confines of your laboratories and not perform them in our oceans.

    Thanks for thinking of us , But NO Thanks !

    • Jason all experiments have risk.
      It’s self explanatory.
      If we new the outcome there would be no reason to experiment.
      Experiments gain knowledge.
      I worked at WHOI for ten years.
      Over 3/4 of their ‘experiments’ fail.
      The laboratory is not the real world.
      That is why WHOI has so many boats and ships.

      “Mono pile driving noise affects on many different species, some have been proven to die off (sea scallops) ,others scatter or develop weakened systems.” Source?
      Is the harvest near monopiles down?

      Follow the science. That is how WHOI developed the techniques to find oil tens of miles below the ocean floor.
      Unfortunately WHOI has bee unable to find oil in the Island waters, just wind, enjoy your electricity, It’s not a good as the stuff made from the Gulf of America oil, but to the unwashed it is really hard to tell the difference.

      WHOI, keep on thinking.
      Thank you.

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