Emission Reduction, Ocean, OIF
By CRA Admin

By: CRA Admin

Introduction: Fishing, Fuel, and Climate

The global fishing industry is an essential provider of food and livelihoods—but it’s also a significant consumer of fossil fuels. Trawlers, longliners, and other fishing vessels travel long distances and operate for extended periods, especially as fish stocks decline or migrate due to warming oceans and habitat loss.

What if we could bring the fish closer to shore?

This is one of the potential co-benefits of Ocean Iron Fertilization (OIF). By increasing fish productivity in targeted zones near ports and coasts, OIF could reduce the energy footprint of the fishing industry while simultaneously restoring the climate.

1. Fuel Use in the Fishing Industry

  • The global fishing fleet consumes 30–50 billion liters of fuel per year, contributing to ~0.6% of global CO₂ emissions¹.

  • Fuel costs account for 30–50% of operational expenses for many commercial fishers².

  • As fish stocks move further offshore or into deeper waters due to ecosystem stress, fuel use per ton of fish caught increases³.

2. How OIF Changes the Distribution of Fish

Ocean Iron Fertilization enhances phytoplankton growth—the base of the marine food web. With more phytoplankton in specific regions, fish stocks are likely to:

  • Concentrate in areas of enhanced productivity, reducing the distance required for fishing.

  • Stay closer to nutrient-rich zones, especially if those zones are intentionally located near ports or Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).

  • Increase in abundance, leading to higher catch per unit effort (CPUE).

If fish are more densely distributed closer to shore, fishing fleets may reduce both travel distance and search time, leading to meaningful fuel savings.

3. Estimating the Impact at Full Scale

Assume full-scale OIF deployment (60 Gt CO₂ removal/year) leads to:

  • A 33–67% increase in global fish biomass (see previous analysis).

  • A portion of this increase occurs within 500 nautical miles of major fishing ports.

  • An average reduction of 15–30% in vessel operating range or time-at-sea due to improved proximity and catch rates.

Even a 10–20% reduction in fuel use across the industry could mean:

  • 3–10 billion liters of fuel saved annually

  • 8–25 million tons of CO₂ emissions avoided per year⁴

  • Lower costs for fishers and reduced environmental impact from marine diesel use

4. Broader Benefits

  • Improved profitability for fishers and cooperatives

  • Lower fish prices due to reduced overhead costs

  • Reduced need for high-seas fishing, helping address overfishing and IUU (illegal, unreported, and unregulated) practices

  • Climate co-benefits, both through carbon sequestration and emissions reductions

Conclusion: A Leaner, Cleaner Fishing Industry

Ocean Iron Fertilization isn’t just about restoring the climate—it could also reshape the economics of global fishing. By making fish more abundant and accessible, OIF may reduce the fishing industry’s reliance on fossil fuels, improve operational efficiency, and promote a more sustainable seafood system.

Call to Action: Fuel Change by Supporting OIF

The Southern California MRV Project is a key step toward validating the science and monitoring tools that will make OIF viable at scale.
👉 Support the project today and help fuel a cleaner, more sustainable fishing future.

Sources

  1. Tyedmers, P., et al. (2005). Fueling global fishing fleets. Ambio, 34(8), 635–638.

  2. FAO (2022). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture.

  3. Sumaila, U.R., et al. (2020). Declining fish populations and the energy cost of fishing. Nature Sustainability, 3, 983–991.

  4. IPCC (2021). Sixth Assessment Report: Mitigation of Climate Change.