Scientists find new marine source of carbon emissions

Bottom trawling, the act of dragging a heavy fishing net across the ocean floor and resuspending some of the carbon in the seafloor sediment, is a previously unaccounted for source of atmospheric carbon emissions, scientists reveal in a recent study.

The new research has revealed that 55-60 per cent of the CO2 produced underwater by bottom trawling will make it into the atmosphere within nine years.

Additionally, the amount of carbon released by bottom trawling into the atmosphere each year is estimated to double the annual emissions from fuel combustion of the entire global fishing fleet, said to be about 4 million vessels.

In a statement, Dr Trisha Atwood, Utah State University and National Geographic Pristine Seas, said: “We have long known that dragging heavy fishing nets — some as large as ten 747 jets — across the ocean floor destroys sea life and habitats.