The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a research permit for Carboniferous, a Houston-based startup, to investigate carbon storage through ocean biomass sinking. This innovative approach involves sinking sugarcane residue into the Orca Basin off Louisiana, aiming to lock away carbon dioxide in low-oxygen environments where decomposition is slower. This development comes at a challenging time for the carbon removal sector, particularly after Microsoft announced it would pause its carbon removal purchases, which have accounted for approximately 80% of the contracted carbon removals to date. While ocean biomass sinking could potentially store between 0.1 and 1 gigaton of carbon dioxide annually, experts warn that the method may not be scalable enough to meet the estimated need for 7 to 20 gigatons of annual carbon removal by mid-century to achieve climate targets. Additionally, concerns arise regarding the ecological impacts, such as the potential for increased methane production and disruptions to marine ecosystems. Other companies, like Israel's Rewind and BlueGreen Water Technologies, are also exploring alternative methods for carbon storage in marine environments, highlighting the urgent need for further research before large-scale implementation.