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Fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions of world fisheries

Author

Listed:
  • Robert W. R. Parker

    (University of Tasmania
    University of British Columbia)

  • Julia L. Blanchard

    (University of Tasmania
    University of Tasmania)

  • Caleb Gardner

    (University of Tasmania)

  • Bridget S. Green

    (University of Tasmania)

  • Klaas Hartmann

    (University of Tasmania)

  • Peter H. Tyedmers

    (Dalhousie University)

  • Reg A. Watson

    (University of Tasmania
    University of Tasmania)

Abstract

Food production is responsible for a quarter of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. Marine fisheries are typically excluded from global assessments of GHGs or are generalized based on a limited number of case studies. Here we quantify fuel inputs and GHG emissions for the global fishing fleet from 1990–2011 and compare emissions from fisheries to those from agriculture and livestock production. We estimate that fisheries consumed 40 billion litres of fuel in 2011 and generated a total of 179 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent GHGs (4% of global food production). Emissions from the global fishing industry grew by 28% between 1990 and 2011, with little coinciding increase in production (average emissions per tonne landed grew by 21%). Growth in emissions was driven primarily by increased harvests from fuel-intensive crustacean fisheries. The environmental benefit of low-carbon fisheries could be further realized if a greater proportion of landings were directed to human consumption rather than industrial uses.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert W. R. Parker & Julia L. Blanchard & Caleb Gardner & Bridget S. Green & Klaas Hartmann & Peter H. Tyedmers & Reg A. Watson, 2018. "Fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions of world fisheries," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(4), pages 333-337, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:8:y:2018:i:4:d:10.1038_s41558-018-0117-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-018-0117-x
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