Fuel consumption and air emissions in one of the world’s largest commercial fisheries

The little information available on fuel consumption and emissions by high seas tuna fisheries indicates that the global fleet may have consumed about 2.5 Mt of in 2009, resulting production 9 CO2-equivalent greenhouse gases (GHGs), i.e., 4.5–5% fishing emissions. We developed a model annual for large-scale purse seiners operating western Indian Ocean as function effort, strategy, vessel characteristics based an original unique data set more than 4300 bunkering operations spanned period 2013–2019. used to estimate total associated GHG SO2 seine fishery between 1981 2019. Our results showed energetic performance this was characterized strong interannual variability over last four decades. This resulted from combination variations abundance but also changes catchability strategy. In recent years, increased targeting schools with fish aggregating devices response market incentives combined IOTC management measure implemented rebuild stock yellowfin has strongly modified productivity spatio-temporal patterns fishing. had effects air pollutant Over 2015 2019, fishery, including its support component, annually 160,000 t emitted 590,000 CO2-eq GHG. Furthermore, our can be significantly reduced when limits composition are imposed. 2015, pollution exceeded 1500 t, successive implementation sulphur 2016 2018 almost eliminated pollution. findings highlight need routine monitoring standardized methods better assess determinants pollutants they emit atmosphere.