Potential assessment of carbon sink capacity by marine bivalves and seaweeds in Guangdong province

The carbon in sea water can be directly or indirectly absorbed by seaweeds and filter-feeding bivalves, whose harvests are in fact removable carbon sink; thus, the carbon sink capability of sea is increased. In the present study, the carbon stored in and removed by marine bivalves and seaweeds in Guangdong province were calculated by physical and value assessment. The results show that about 11104 t of carbon was removed from the sea by harvests of bivalves and seaweeds in 2009, amounting to 39.6104 t of CO2, which cost about 59.4108~238108million dollars for CO2 capture and storage. Therefore, carbon sink fisheries based on bivalves and seaweeds mariculture has remarkable economic, ecological and social benefits.