Today, scientists have revealed that bottom trawling, the act of dragging a heavy fishing net across the ocean floor, is a significant source of atmospheric carbon emissions. This previously unaccounted for source of carbon pollution is contributing to global warming, adding to the urgency of reducing emissions from fossil fuels and deforestation.
A recent study found that a large portion of the disturbed sediment carbon from bottom trawling turns into carbon dioxide underwater. Shockingly, 55%–60% of this carbon dioxide will make its way into the atmosphere within nine years, further exacerbating climate change.
The annual carbon emissions from bottom trawling are estimated to be double the emissions from fuel combustion of the entire global fishing fleet, which consists of about 4 million vessels. Dr. Trisha Atwood of Utah State University and National Geographic Pristine Seas emphasized the destructive impact of bottom trawling on sea life and habitats, highlighting the urgent need to address this issue.
This groundbreaking study is the first to demonstrate that over half of the carbon released by bottom trawling escapes into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming over the span of about ten years. The implications of this finding are significant, as it underscores the irreversible harm caused to the climate, society, and wildlife by disturbing the ocean floor.
2024-01-18 07:00:06
Article from phys.org