Managing fisheries for environmental performance: the effects of marine resource decision-making on the footprint of seafood

The concept of seafood sustainability does not typically include the energetic or material demands of the capture or supply chain processes, despite the significant impacts they generate. We used life cycle assessment (LCA) to measure the environmental footprint of the supply of Tasmanian southern r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of cleaner production 2014-02, Vol.64, p.368-376
Main Authors: Farmery, Anna, Gardner, Caleb, Green, Bridget S., Jennings, Sarah
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Carbon footprint
Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife
Environment and sustainable development
Environmental impact
Exploitation and management of natural biological resources (hunting, fishing and exploited populations survey, etc.)
Fisheries
Fisheries management
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Global warming
Homarus americanus
Jasus edwardsii
Life cycle assessment
Lobsters
Marine
Marine resources
Maximum economic yield
Maximum sustainable yield
Resource management
Sea water ecosystems
Seafood
Southern rock lobster
Synecology
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Summary:The concept of seafood sustainability does not typically include the energetic or material demands of the capture or supply chain processes, despite the significant impacts they generate. We used life cycle assessment (LCA) to measure the environmental footprint of the supply of Tasmanian southern rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii (TSRL). International airfreight of live lobsters was the major contributor to global warming potential (GWP) and cumulative energy demand (CED) indicators, while the fishing stage accounted for the majority of impacts to eutrophication potential (EP), water use and marine aquatic ecotoxicity. The environmental footprint of the TSRL in our scenarios was responsive to marine resource management decisions made inside and outside the fishery. Targeting maximum economic yield rather than maximum sustainable yield decreased the carbon footprint by 80% or 10 kg CO2e kg−1 of lobster at capture. Limiting access to the fishery by increasing the coverage of marine protected areas increased the fishery's carbon footprint by 23% or 3 kg CO2e kg−1 of lobster at capture. The unintended consequences of management changes suggest that in a future of increased carbon emission regulation, marine resource decision making should not be made in isolation of broader environmental impacts. •Changes to fisheries management had a profound effect on the environmental footprint of the southern rock lobster.•Targeting MEY improved efficiency and reduced impacts such as carbon emissions.•Limiting access to fisheries through MPA implementation increased carbon emissions.•Fisheries management is an important adaptation tool for reducing the footprint of seafood.•Incorporating life cycle assessment indicators into fishery management can enhance sustainability.
ISSN:0959-6526
1879-1786
DOI:10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.10.016