Carbon footprint by marine fishing boats of India

Abstract

In Indian marine fisheries, the enhanced fishing effort and efficiency in the last five decades has resulted in substantial increase in diesel consumption, equivalent to CO2 emission of 0.30 million tonnes (mt) in the year 1961 to 3.60 mt in 2010. For every tonne of fish caught, the CO2 emission has increased from 0.50 to 1.02 t during the period. Large differences in CO2 emission between craft types were observed. In 2010, the larger mechanized boats (with inboard engine) emitted 1.18 t CO2/t of fish caught, and the smaller motorized boats (with outboard motor) 0.59 t CO2/t of fish caught. Among the mechanized craft, the trawlers emitted more CO2 (1.43 t CO2/t of fish) than the gillnetters, bagnetters, seiners, liners and dolnetters (0.56–1.07 t CO2/t of fish). There is scope to reduce CO2 by setting emission norms and improving fuel efficiency of marine fishing boats.