Summary/Abstract
Spurred by negative reactions to ocean iron fertilization efforts that began in 2007, the parties of the London Convention and the London Protocol (LC-LP) created the Assessment Framework for Scientific Research Involving Ocean Fertilization. However, gaps in the governance of this scientific research still remain. To remedy this issue, the brief recommends that the International Maritime Organization and parties to the LC-LP develop memorandums of understanding to delineate framework implementation plans, adopt legally binding governance transparency mechanisms to ensure linkages between national and international governance institutions, and create independent assessment panels.