In this edition of Plan Sea, co-host Anna Madlener sits down with co-host (and one of this week’s guests) Wil Burns, Dr. Terre Satterfield from the University of British Columbia, and Dr. Chris Pearce from the UK’s National Oceanography Center. Burns, Satterfield, and Pearce are some of the lead authors on a new  report launched at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, “Principles for Responsible and Effective Marine CDR Development and Governance.”

Commissioned by the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, the report outlines how to responsibly evaluate and potentially scale ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (oCDR) — also referred to as marine CDR — along three pillars: scientific and technological readiness, governance, and national implementation. The framework reflects months of collaborative research to help address how oCDR can begin to move from lab trials to real-world deployment — while maintaining high standards of scientific rigor, environmental protection, and public trust. Read the full report HERE.

Dr. Terre Satterfield, Professor of Culture, Risk and the Environment at the University of British Columbia, joins Wil and Anna to discuss the report’s recommendations for national strategies that can accelerate oCDR research and public engagement. She spoke about the importance of streamlining permitting processes for oCDR field trials, earmarking funding for lab networks for holistic oCDR evaluation, and investing in public engagement hubs to help co-design research efforts. 

Dr. Christopher Pearce, drawing from his research on oCDR science at the UK’s National Oceanography Center, discusses how the report offers six categories to assess scientific and technological readiness for various oCDR approaches. This aims to help policymakers better understand when and why, for example, an approach may be quite well-understood by scientists in the lab, but the environmental impacts associated with larger projects are less understood and require field trials for further evaluation. He also explains how tools like pre-permitted testbed sites and national lab networks can promote data sharing and create the infrastructure needed for safe and scalable mCDR projects. 

Looking ahead, Wil, Terre, and Chris discuss how international frameworks like BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) can ensure accountability for future mCDR governance, and reflect on the major challenges facing the field—from limited public awareness and funding to the need for strong public oversight as the technology scales. The report offers important recommendations, such as creating pre-permitted testbed sites and national lab networks that can promote research efficiency and strong standards as oCDR continues to be evaluated, regulated, and tested. 

To learn more about the report’s findings, listen to the full episode HERE, subscribe with your favorite podcast service, or find the entire series here. 

Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.

ACRONYMS / CONCEPTS:

• MRV (1:26); Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification
• TRL (6:58); Technology Readiness Level
• SRL (6:44); Scientific Readiness Level
• BBNJ (38:03); Agreement on Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, also known a

Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.

In this edition of Plan Sea, hosts Anna Madlener and Wil Burns sit down with Kyla Westphal and Mallory Ringham from Ebb Carbon to discuss Project Macoma — the company’s pilot ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) study being conducted in Port Angeles, Washington this summer. A first-of-its-kind endeavor, Project Macoma aims to remove up to 1,000 tonnes of  CO2 from the atmosphere using Ebb Carbon’s electrochemical OAE technology. Kyla and Mallory join to share more about their journey engaging the local community on this proposed research, securing a permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and establishing Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) standards as this work gets underway. 

Project Macoma continues the work of the late Dr. Matthew Eisaman, Co-Founder of Ebb Carbon and a pivotal figure in the ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (oCDR) field. Matt dedicated his life to fostering a clear understanding of the scientific path forward for potential oCDR solutions, while also creating an inclusive and environmentally-responsible sector. For more background into Ebb Carbon and a deep dive into their approach, listen to our episode with Matt HERE. 

Kyla Westphal, Vice President of External Affairs at Ebb Carbon, joins Anna and Will to discuss her role developing safe and responsible deployment of OAE. Building on her experience working in what she calls “the intersection between technology and humanity,” Kyla oversees both the stakeholder engagement and ecological safety aspects of Ebb Carbon’s work. She shares how Project Macoma is building on years of foundational environmental research and engagement with Washington state regulators, community groups, and tribal governments to earn local buy-in and support. 

Mallory Ringham, Lead Oceanographer and Head of MRV, then discusses how Ebb Carbon secured the first-ever National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) approval for oCDR under the Clean Water Act. She shares how the permit requires a slow, careful, and continuously monitored operation to ensure water quality standards are met within prescribed mixing zones. Mallory also discusses how Ebb’s foundational research created a strong understanding of the seasonal and tidal variability in the region, allowing for more accurate monitoring and analysis of the project. This summer, Mallory will continue to oversee the monitoring process to ensure the project is operating safely, responsibly, and effectively.

Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.

ACRONYMS / CONCEPTS:

• MRV (1:05); Monitoring, Reporting and Verification
• NPDES (14:56); National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
• MCDR; Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal  (21:58)

Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.

In this edition of Plan Sea, host Anna Madlener is joined by Na’im Merchant, host of The Carbon Curve podcast and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, for a special co-hosted episode of the two podcasts. Recorded live at the Carbon to Sea 2025 Annual Convening, Anna and Na’im speak with Lennart Bach, Associate Professor and ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) scientist at the University of Tasmania, to share insights and key takeaways from this year’s convening.

Last month, Carbon to Sea hosted its third Annual Convening in Washington, D.C., bringing together scientists, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to share recent progress and discuss a path forward for OAE. Bach, who previously spoke with Plan Sea on his work in ocean iron fertilization, was a speaker on this year’s “Scientific Research Progress and Updates” panel. Focused on the environmental impacts of OAE, Bach’s research aims to learn more about how OAE approaches may impact the marine ecosystem.

Building on conversations from the convening, Bach joins Anna and Na’im to share his optimism about the future of OAE, while also recognizing the potential challenges posed by a dip in the “hype cycle” that emerging scientific fields often face. However, Bach said he feels confident in progress that’s already been made and noted the importance of building on preliminary findings about OAE’s potential to conduct more targeted research. 

Na’im similarly addresses this challenging moment for the climate industry writ large, as it faces reduced funding and policy support in many areas, with new geopolitical headwinds. Drawing on his experience working across the carbon removal space, Na’im offers advice for how the OAE field can address this moment by prioritizing focused research, establishing an updated roadmap, and exploring new funding pathways. 

Looking ahead, both Na’im and Bach highlight the importance of aligning on MRV approaches, cross-sector partnerships, increased community and policymaker engagement, and exploring new funding pathways in order to advance OAE research. As this year’s convening exemplified, the immediate opportunities in OAE research have largely been addressed; what lies ahead is more complex and demands significantly greater coordination.

Listen to our previous episode with Lennart Bach here.

ACRONYMS / CONCEPTS: 

• OAE (2:28)
• MRV (18:06)
• DAC (23:37)
• CRCF (29:59)
• ETS (29:59)
• ERW (36:16)

Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.

This episode of Plan Sea was recorded live at the Ocean Visions Biennial Summit 2025, and features conversations with experts from Ocean Visions, UArctic, and WHOI to discuss their work in the ocean-climate nexus. Host Anna Madlener is joined again by special co-host, Danny Gawlowski, Carbon to Sea’s Senior Manager of Communications and Policy. Listen to Part One of Plan Sea’s coverage of the Ocean Vision Biennial here.

Guests on this episode include: 

• Nikhil Neelakantan, Senior Program Officer at Ocean Visions
• Marianne Hagen, Co-lead of Seabed Curtain Project at UArctic Frozen Arctic Conservation Network
• Kilaparti (Rama) Ramakrishna, Director of Marine Policy Center and Senior Advisor to the President on Ocean and Climate Policy at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• David Koweek, Chief Scientist at Ocean Visions

Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.

This episode of Plan Sea was recorded live at the Ocean Visions Biennial Summit 2025, and features conversation with Ocean Visions CEO Brad Ack and other attendees to discuss their work in ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (oCDR). Host Anna Madlener is joined by a special co-host, Danny Gawlowski, Carbon to Sea’s Senior Manager of Communications and Policy.

Guests on this episode include: 

• Brad Ack, CEO of Ocean Visions
• Marc von Keitz, Director at The Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment
• Mariam Swaleh, Assistant Registrar of Research and Grants at Technical University of Mombasa, Team Lead at Ocean-Climate Innovation Hub Kenya, and OCI Fellow at the Global Ecosystem of Ocean Solutions
• Lily Schacht, Senior Carbon Removal Verification Engineer at 350Solutions
• Meg Chadsey, Carbon Specialist at Washington Sea Grant

Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.

In this edition of Plan Sea, hosts Anna Madlener and Wil Burns are joined by Drs. Sara Seck and Neil Craik to discuss the current governance and public funding landscape for ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (oCDR) research and innovation in Canada. They focus particularly on jurisdictional challenges in Nova Scotia, related to an increase in oCDR R&D in the province over recent years, and discuss broadly how to strengthen future policymaker and public engagement.

Sara Seck is a Professor of Law at Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law, serving as the Yogis and Keddy Chair in Human Rights Law and the Director of the Marine & Environmental Law Institute. Dr. Seck sheds light on the complex and overlapping jurisdiction of land and ocean rights in Canada. She shares insights for oCDR stakeholders seeking to navigate this landscape to address permitting and other governance issues in coordination with the federal Canadian government, provincial governments, and First Nations leadership. 

Neil Craik is a Professor at the University of Waterloo, with appointments to the Basillie School of International Affairs (BSIA) and the School of Environment, Enterprise, and Development. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation and Co-Lead of the Environment and Resources Research Cluster at the BSIA. Dr. Craik discusses legislation and public funding opportunities that can help support oCDR initiatives in Canada. He also explains current procurement strategies for carbon credits across both the public and private sectors, and how oCDR can work towards compliance to access this market in the future. 

During the episode, the Plan Sea guests and hosts consider the implications of good governance and policy on advancing the development and funding of oCDR initiatives. The oCDR field is reaching a pivotal moment, with many research projects now moving towards real-world field trials that will answer key scientific questions but also raise new challenges for navigating existing and emerging legislation. Doubling-down on public engagement and unlocking new funding opportunities will be increasingly important for advancing oCDR activities in Canada and elsewhere.

ACRONYMS / CONCEPTS:

• CDR: Carbon Dioxide Removal 
• mCDR: Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal 
• MRV: Measurement, Reporting, and Verification 
• BBNJ Agreement: Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction
• TCA: Transforming Climate Action Research Program

Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.

In this episode of Plan Sea, hosts Anna Madlener and Wil Burns are joined by several guests to discuss new initiatives to improve data management and transparency in the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) industry. Jacki Long is an ocean scientist and co-founder of Submarine Scientific, a scientific consulting company focused on ocean modeling, expert verification support, and system wide strategy development for ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (oCDR). Jacki joins the Plan Sea hosts to discuss Submarine’s work pioneering a new initiative to standardize emerging data from ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) field trials. In collaboration with Carbon to Sea and the National Ocean Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Submarine’s data protocol is undergoing an open comment period through March 7th, allowing researchers, partners, and community members to submit feedback. 

Brad Rochlin and Tannis Thorlakson join to discuss their work at Cascade Climate, a philanthropically-backed nonprofit working to accelerate natural climate interventions such as enhanced rock weathering (ERW). Brad and Tannis share insights from Cascade’s development of a data quarry method that could fill an important gap in existing carbon data quantification methods — and ultimately unlock greater scientific understanding of ERW.

During the episode, the guests and hosts consider how these data standardization and sharing efforts — across the OAE and ERW fields — are laying the foundation for enhanced research efficiency and increasing public trust in CDR methods as potentially viable solutions to slow the impacts of climate change. The ongoing work from Submarine Scientific and Cascade Climate aim to help researchers share learnings in real time, improve collaboration, and support data transparency. 

ACRONYMS / CONCEPTS:

• CDR - carbon dioxide removal
• ERW - enhanced rock weathering
• OAE - ocean alkalinity enhancement
• IP - intellectual property (29:38) 
• NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (38:28)
• CDRXIV (pronounced “see-dee archive”) (38:46)
• Hourglass (Listen to a previous episode here) (38:53)
• R&D - research & development (43:43)

Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.

Hey listeners, we want to hear from you!

What 2024 milestone in the world of carbon removal should we be celebrating?

And what do you hope to see in the marine CDR field in 2025?

Leave us a quick voice message at www.speakpipe.com/planseapodcast

It only takes a few seconds, and you could be featured in our next episode. 

Thanks, and happy new year! 

Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.

This new episode features two OAE researchers and their insights from conducting field research as well as a special request to you, our listeners!

In this edition of Plan Sea, hosts Anna Madlener and Wil Burns are joined by two leading ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) researchers: Dr. Jaimie Palter from the University of Rhode Island’s School of Oceanography and Dr. Dariia Atamanchuk from Dalhousie University’s Department of Oceanography. Palter and Atamanchuk both lead field research sites studying OAE and are part of Carbon to Sea’s Field Research Steering Committee. 

Palter and Atamanchuk discuss their work leading field research sites studying OAE in coastal lagoon and ocean harbor settings, respectively, and share initial findings. The Plan Sea hosts and this episode’s guests underscore the importance of field research guiding the recommendation for scientifically robust, yet affordable and actionable monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) processes, and encourage greater collaboration between projects and across the sector.

Also: we would like to hear from you, our listeners, before our next episode! Let us know what 2024 milestone we should be celebrating or what you hope to see in 2025 by leaving us a voice message here that may be used in our next episode!

Acronyms used throughout the episode: 

• NOAA NOPP –  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Oceanographic Partnership Program (1:47) 
• AGU - American Geophysical Union (2:00)
• MRV - Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (13:25)
• pCO2 - Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (34:58)
• EPA - Environmental Protection Agency (56:27)

Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.

In this edition of Plan Sea, hosts Anna Madlener and Wil Burns are joined by Captura CEO Steve Oldham to discuss Direct Ocean Capture technology. Captura is a Pasadena, CA-based company that is exploring the use of renewable energy to remove carbon from the ocean as a low-cost, large-scale climate solution.

Learn more about Captura’s DOC approach and propriety technology on their website here. 

Listen to our previous episode with Banyu Carbon’s Co-Founder & CEO Alex Gagnonon here.

Acronyms used throughout the episode:

• DAC - Direct Air Capture (6:38)
• RD&D - Research, Development, and Demonstration (21:21)
• KPIs - Key Performance Indicators (22:17)
• MRV - Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (35:34)

Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.