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Fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions of world fisheries
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 17:02 authored by Parker, RWR, Julia BlanchardJulia Blanchard, Caleb GardnerCaleb Gardner, Bridget Green, Klaas HartmannKlaas Hartmann, Tyedmers, PH, Reginald WatsonReginald WatsonFood 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.
Funding
Australian Research Council
History
Publication title
Nature Climate ChangeVolume
8Pagination
333-337ISSN
1758-678XDepartment/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
Nature Publishing GroupPlace of publication
United KingdomRights statement
© 2018 Macmillan PublishersRepository Status
- Restricted