Australia pushes for ocean 'fertilisation' ban

SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia said it was pushing for a ban on Thursday of any commercial use of a pioneering technique to reduce the impacts of climate change by "fertilising" the world's oceans with iron, warning of significant risks.

Environment Minister Tony Burke said Australia had worked with Nigeria and South Korea on an amendment to the London Protocol governing waste dumping at sea which would prohibit commercial fertilisation activities.

"The amendment seeks to put mandatory regulation in place around the practice of ocean fertilisation," Burke said.

"It prohibits commercial ocean fertilisation activities, while allowing for legitimate scientific research to identify potential benefits and ways to safely manage the process."