Introduction
As global awareness of environmental sustainability intensifies, the fisheries and aquaculture sectors are under increasing pressure to adopt climate positive and nature positive practices. Contributing approximately 0.49% of global greenhouse gas emissions, these industries play a crucial role in climate change mitigation, biodiversity preservation, and food security. Unlike terrestrial agriculture, which emits between 400 and 660 million tons of CO₂ annually, aquaculture has a lower carbon footprint due to improved feed conversion rates and the absence of methane-producing land-use changes.
Embracing climate certifications—such as climate positive, carbon neutral, and carbon measured—can further support sustainability efforts in these sectors. This article examines the key emission sources in fisheries and aquaculture and highlights practical strategies to reduce their environmental impact.
Understanding Climate and Nature Positive Practices
- Climate Positive: This approach involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions beyond net-zero, effectively removing more CO₂ from the atmosphere than is emitted, thus contributing positively to the climate.
- Nature Positive: A global goal aiming to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030, ensuring full recovery of natural ecosystems by 2050.
Key Emission Sources in Fisheries and Aquaculture
1. Wild Capture Fisheries
The primary emissions in this sector stem from fuel consumption in fishing vessels. Additional contributors include:
- Vessel Operations: Energy-intensive activities such as navigation, refrigeration, and auxiliary power generation.
- Fishing Equipment: Emissions from the production, maintenance, and disposal of fishing gear.
- Post-Harvest Processing: Energy use in processing facilities, cold storage, and packaging.
2. Aquaculture Operations
Emissions in aquaculture primarily arise from:
- Feed Production: Notably, feed raw material production can emit approximately 3,271 kg CO₂e per ton of fish produced.
- Energy Use: Powering water circulation, aeration, and temperature control.
- Water and Waste Management: Energy-intensive pumping, filtration, and waste disposal processes.
- Infrastructure: Construction and maintenance of farm facilities.
Best Practices for Carbon Footprint Reduction
A. Wild Capture Fisheries
- Enhancing Vessel Efficiency
- Regular engine maintenance and upgrades to improve fuel efficiency (15–25% reduction in emissions).
- Route optimization using digital tools to minimize travel distances.
- Hybrid propulsion systems and solar power integration for auxiliary equipment (30–40% reduction in emissions).
- Sustainable Fishing Operations
- Using LED lighting for fish attraction, reducing energy consumption.
- Transitioning to selective fishing gear to minimize bycatch and resource waste.
- Implementing gear recycling programs to reduce the carbon footprint of discarded equipment.
- Efficient Post-Harvest Practices
- Investing in energy-efficient refrigeration and insulation systems (25–35% reduction in cooling emissions).
- Implementing heat recovery systems to optimize processing energy use.
B. Aquaculture Operations
- Feed Management Improvements
- Switching to alternative protein sources (e.g., insect-based or plant-based feed) to reduce emissions by up to 70%.
- Adopting precision feeding systems to minimize waste.
- Prioritizing local feed sourcing to cut transport-related emissions.
- Energy Optimization
- Installing energy-efficient water pumps and aeration systems.
- Utilizing smart dissolved oxygen monitoring systems to reduce unnecessary aeration.
- Transitioning to solar or wind energy for farm operations (potential 50–70% reduction in circulation energy).
- Sustainable Water Management
- Implementing recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) to minimize water use and energy consumption.
- Introducing biofloc technology to improve water quality and reduce waste output.
- Using waste-to-biogas systems to convert organic waste into renewable energy.
The Path Forward: Economic and Environmental Synergy
Many carbon-reduction strategies not only help the environment but also improve economic efficiency. For example:
- Precision feeding reduces feed costs while lowering emissions.
- Renewable energy investments can yield long-term savings on operational costs.
- Energy-efficient equipment improves productivity while reducing environmental impact.
Conclusion
The fisheries and aquaculture industries are at a turning point. By adopting technological innovations, sustainable management practices, and renewable energy solutions, they can significantly cut their carbon footprints while ensuring long-term food security.
With continued investment and industry-wide collaboration, the seafood sector can play a pivotal role in the global fight against climate change.
Want to Learn More? Contact Us!
At Green Initiative, we help businesses and industries transition toward a climate and nature positive future. Whether you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint, achieve climate certifications, or improve sustainability in fisheries and aquaculture, our team is here to assist you.
Get in touch and let us know if you would like to receive an in-depht technical review on Best Practices for Carbon Footprint Reduction in Fisheries and Aquaculture Operations.
This article was written by Matheus Mendes from the Green Initiative Team.
Image credits by Marcos Vaena
