Fishery Carbon Footprint Calculator
Our marine ocean health calculator computes fishery carbon footprint accurately. Enter measurements for results with formulas and error analysis.
Reviewed by Daniel Agrici, Founder & Lead Developer
Formula
Total CO2 = (Fuel x 3.17) + (Fish x Ref Factor) + (kWh x 0.5)
Diesel: 3.17 kg CO2/L. Refrigeration: 0.05 (ice) to 0.55 (blast freeze) kg CO2/kg fish. Processing: 0.5 kg CO2/kWh grid factor.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Offshore Trawler
Problem:8000 L fuel, 10000 kg fish, 21 days, ref factor 0.35, 1200 kWh.
Solution:Fuel=25360 kg\nRef=3500 kg\nProcessing=600 kg\nTotal=29460\nPer kg=2.95
Result:29460 kg CO2 | 2.95 kg/kg (Average)
Example 2: Small Purse Seine
Problem:1500 L fuel, 20000 kg fish, 5 days, ref 0.05, 300 kWh.
Solution:Fuel=4755\nRef=1000\nProc=150\nTotal=5905\nPer kg=0.30
Result:5905 kg CO2 | 0.30 kg/kg (Excellent)
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the carbon footprint of fishing calculated?
Carbon footprint sums emissions from all stages. Fuel combustion is dominant with diesel producing 3.17 kg CO2 per liter. Refrigeration varies by method from minimal for ice to significant for blast freezing. Processing energy adds further emissions. Total is expressed as kg CO2 per kg fish landed for comparison. Comprehensive assessments also include vessel construction gear manufacturing and market transportation.
What is the average carbon footprint per kilogram of fish?
Carbon footprint varies enormously from 0.5 to over 10 kg CO2 per kg. Small pelagic species caught by purse seine have lowest at 0.3 to 1.0 kg CO2/kg. Wild shrimp and lobster have highest at 5 to 15 kg CO2/kg due to trawling fuel costs. Tuna by longline falls at 2 to 5 kg. For comparison chicken averages 4 to 5 kg CO2/kg and beef 20 to 30 kg CO2/kg of protein produced.
How does refrigeration affect the carbon footprint?
Refrigeration contributes 5 to 20 percent of total emissions depending on method and voyage duration. Ice-only has lowest direct emissions but limits trip duration. Mechanical refrigeration consumes significant fuel adding 0.2 to 0.5 kg CO2 per kg fish. Blast freezing at sea adds 0.3 to 0.8 kg CO2 per kg. Older systems with HFC refrigerant leaks add substantial greenhouse gases with 1000 to 4000 times the warming potential of CO2.
How does bottom trawling release sediment carbon?
Bottom trawling disturbs approximately 4.9 million square km of seabed annually releasing 0.6 to 1.5 gigatons of CO2 from stored organic carbon in seafloor sediments. This makes trawling potentially comparable to aviation in total emissions. Disturbed sediments also reduce the ocean capacity to absorb atmospheric CO2 by degrading benthic carbon-sequestering ecosystems. These emissions are not in standard footprint calculations.
References
Reviewed by Daniel Agrici, Founder & Lead Developer · Editorial policy