(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-12-08 13:40

In a presentation on the sidelines of the Bali conference on Friday, Beardall argued that more efficient cultivation methods could greatly boost production in nations with long coastlines, such as the Philippines.

In addition to storing carbon, seaweed can be used to produce clean-burning biofuels, thereby making sure that the carbon isn't simply recycled back into the air.

"Feeding algae to people will only release the CO2 back into the atmosphere again," said Beardall. "It's not carbon sequestration."

The concept, however, has problems. Skeptics, for instance, say that trees are effective for carbon storage because they can last for many years, while seaweed is cultivated and harvested in cycles of only months, meaning the storage will be hard to measure or control.

"It depends on how long you keep the materials," said I Nyoman Suryadiputra of Wetlands International. "Because if it is decomposed in a month, the carbon dioxide will go back into the atmosphere."

Other obstacles remain. Some critics wonder if removing sea water from the seaweed as it's converted to fuel would require a large amount of energy that reduces its environmental benefits, though supporters say sun-drying could be used.

The environmental impact of rapid expansion of seaweed farms has also not been thought out, scientists concede. Huge floating farms could complicate fishing, shipping and other maritime activities.

Chung acknowledged the idea was in its infancy.

"In terms of ball games, we are just in the bullpen," he said, "not the main game yet."

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