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Planktos Research Vessel Weatherbird II Finalizing Preparation for Ocean Ecorestoration Efforts In Spite of Mission Critical Equipment Delays
VANCOUVER, British Columbia-(Business Wire)-August 23, 2007 - Planktos (OTCBB:PLKT) is pleased to present an update regarding the scientific mission of the research ship Weatherbird II now undergoing preparations for the departure to the Equatorial Pacific, now slated for September. The ship remains in Florida due to unexpectedly late arrival of mission critical scientific equipment. In spite of this delay the company is using this time to expand its equipment inventory, host scientists from around the world eager to join the project, and to refine methodologies and project plans.
Regarding this first of Planktos' six pilot projects, Dr. Noel Brown Planktos Science Advisory Board Chairman and former director of the UN Environment Program says, "The science intensive Planktos pilot projects seek to help answer the questions about whether we can reverse ocean ecosystem collapse. We intend to do this by demonstrating the commercial viability of the 20 years and $100 million worth of publicly funded research that has gone into what the company calls ocean iron micronutrient replenishment. These efforts will help Planktos ocean restoration work to qualify as a producer of carbon offsets in the many ecosystem service markets of the European Union, Americas, and Asia."
As R/V Weatherbird sails next month she'll be festooned with sophisticated ocean science gear. These include a deep ocean pump sampling system, a 'Moch-Ness' ocean plankton net system, and a new multi-media lab. Planktos will share its work via a series of internet based educational programs it is developing for schools and colleges. Representatives from global media will sail aboard the Weatherbird to witness the work, beam live news broadcasts, and produce documentary programming for the global audience that eagerly awaits news on whether Planktos can deliver on its pledge to restore dwindling ocean ecosystems.
The destination for this maiden voyage of the Planktos R/V Weatherbird is the Eastern Tropical Pacific nearest to the Galapagos Islands yet still far to the west and safely both down wind and down current from those precious islands. This region of the world's ocean is most critically depleted in ocean plant life. Multinational iron micronutrient plankton research efforts have repeatedly chosen this location for study as the natural iron from the islands feeds the ocean there resulting in a vast natural plankton bloom. "The natural Galapagos bloom serves as the perfect natural biological control for iron stimulated restorative ocean blooms. Everything science knows about these natural Galapagos plankton blooms tells us they produce the wondrous healthy marine oasis that surrounds those islands with a life-filled sea. Since the first reports of Charles Darwin there has never been reported anything but positive effects to environment from this sort of iron stimulated plankton bloom," says Russ George, President CEO of Planktos.
About: Planktos Corp., trading under the symbol PLKT.OB, is commercializing proprietary systems intended to generate large volumes of low cost greenhouse gas emission offset credits through ecorestoration of trees and seas (ocean plants). The Company's biotech systems and methodologies are based on research and applied science that has been ongoing for decades in both public and private venues on land and at sea.
Forward-Looking Statements: A number of statements contained herein are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933. Safe-harbor provisions may be inapplicable to these statement due to exclusions under Section 27A(b). These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including the weather, sea conditions, sufficiency of existing capital resources, uncertainties related to the development of Planktos' business plan, and the ability to secure additional sources of financing. The actual results that Planktos, Corp. may achieve could differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties. Planktos encourages the public to read the information provided here in conjunction with their most recent filings on Form 10-KSB and Form 10-QSB. Their public filings may be viewed at www.sec.gov.
