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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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    Cited by:

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    2. Mohamed Keznine & Soufiane Hasni & Sara A. A. Al Mabruk & Manal Demiathi & Mohamed Analla & Mustapha Aksissou, 2023. "A Socioeconomic Study of the Coastal Fishing Fleet in the Al Hoceima Port (Moroccan Mediterranean)," International Journal of Social Ecology and Sustainable Development (IJSESD), IGI Global, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, January.
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    4. Jordi Guillen & Natacha Carvalho & Griffin Carpenter & Antonio Borriello & Angel Calvo Santos, 2023. "Economic Impact of High Fuel Prices on the EU Fishing Fleet," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-10, September.
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    11. Rebeca Jaime Muniz & Juan Antonio Jimber Del Rio, 2023. "Impact of the Climate Change on the Production of the Fishing and Aquaculture Sectors of Latin America," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 13(3), pages 80-91, May.
    12. Machado, Fábio Luiz Vargas & Halmenschlager, Vinícius & Abdallah, Patrízia Raggi & Teixeira, Gibran da Silva & Sumaila, Ussif Rashid, 2021. "The relation between fishing subsidies and CO2 emissions in the fisheries sector," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
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    15. Valle, Mireia & Ramírez-Romero, Eduardo & Ibaibarriaga, Leire & Citores, Leire & Fernandes-Salvador, Jose A. & Chust, Guillem, 2024. "Pan-Atlantic 3D distribution model incorporating water column for commercial fish," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 490(C).
    16. Antonio Cortés & Sara González‐García & Amaya Franco‐Uría & Maria Teresa Moreira & Gumersindo Feijoo, 2022. "Evaluation of the environmental sustainability of the inshore great scallop (Pecten maximus) fishery in Galicia," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(6), pages 1920-1933, December.
    17. Tsakiridis, Andreas & O’Donoghue, Cathal & Hynes, Stephen & Kilcline, Kevin, 2020. "A Comparison of Environmental and Economic Sustainability across Seafood and Livestock Product Value Chains," Working Papers 309507, National University of Ireland, Galway, Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit.
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    19. Friederike Ziegler & Sepideh Jafarzadeh & Erik Skontorp Hognes & Ulf Winther, 2022. "Greenhouse gas emissions of Norwegian seafoods: From comprehensive to simplified assessment," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(6), pages 1908-1919, December.
    20. Sou, Weng Sut & Goh, Tian & Lee, Xin Ni & Ng, Szu Hui & Chai, Kah-Hin, 2022. "Reducing the carbon intensity of international shipping – The impact of energy efficiency measures," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    21. Philipp A. Trotter & Tristan Becker & Renaldi Renaldi & Xinfang Wang & Radhika Khosla & Grit Walther, 2023. "The role of supply chains for the sustainability transformation of global food systems: A large‐scale, systematic review of food cold chains," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(6), pages 1429-1446, December.
    22. Tantiwatthanaphanich, Thanapan & Shao, Xuan & Huang, Liqiao & Yoshida, Yoshikuni & Long, Yin, 2022. "Evaluating carbon footprint embodied in Japanese food consumption based on global supply chain," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 56-65.
    23. Pasquale Pazienza & Caterina Lucia, 2020. "How does FDI in the “agricultural and fishing” sector affect methane emission? Evidence from the OECD countries," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 37(2), pages 441-462, July.
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    25. Edi Iswanto Wiloso & Muhammad Romli & Bambang Arif Nugraha & Adisa Ramadhan Wiloso & Arief Ameir Rahman Setiawan & Patrik J. G. Henriksson, 2022. "Life cycle assessment of Indonesian canned crab (Portunus pelagicus)," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(6), pages 1947-1960, December.

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