How Fisheries Can Help Fight Climate Change: Exploring Carbon Sequestration in the Oceans

The World Bank's white paper Understanding the Role of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Carbon Sequestration emphasizes the role of marine life, fisheries, and aquaculture in absorbing atmospheric carbon and helping mitigate climate change. It discusses the impact of fishing practices, such as trawling, on carbon storage and highlights the potential of aquaculture, particularly seaweed farming, in boosting carbon sequestration. The report calls for improved fisheries management and further research to bridge knowledge gaps, especially in coastal areas.

The role of oceans in regulating our planet’s climate is undeniable. They act as vast sponges, absorbing heat and carbon dioxide, and contribute to the delicate balance of Earth's ecosystems. Beyond the well-known physical and chemical processes that help trap carbon in the ocean, new research is shining a light on marine life’s surprising contribution to climate mitigation. According to a recent World Bank white paper titled Understanding the Role of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Carbon Sequestration, fisheries and aquaculture hold significant potential to help in the fight against climate change.

Marine Life as a Carbon Sponge

When we think of carbon sequestration, we often picture forests and wetlands. However, the oceans also play a key role in storing carbon, largely thanks to marine organisms. The ocean absorbs about 23 percent of anthropogenic carbon emissions, helping buffer the planet from the worst effects of global warming. Central to this process is the biological carbon pump, a natural mechanism through which marine life captures and stores carbon.

Phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish, and other marine organisms absorb carbon from the atmosphere through their life processes. When they die, much of this carbon is transferred into the deeper ocean, where it can remain locked away for decades, centuries, or even millennia. This mechanism is what makes marine ecosystems such vital players in global carbon management.

The white paper emphasizes that improving our understanding of this biological pump—and how human activities like fishing affect it—could lead to more effective climate strategies. Yet, while research has advanced in recent decades, there are still knowledge gaps, particularly regarding coastal areas where fishing activities are most concentrated.

Fisheries Management and Carbon Sequestration

The white paper underscores the critical link between fisheries management and carbon sequestration. It notes that while much research has been done on open ocean carbon sequestration, coastal and shelf areas—where fishing activities are most concentrated—remain under studied. This is significant because these zones tend to be more dynamic, with complex interactions between marine life, sediment, and the water column, all of which affect carbon storage.

One of the key findings of the report is the impact of trawling on marine sediments. Trawling, a common fishing method, disturbs the seabed, releasing carbon that has been stored in the sediments. The interaction between fishing gear and the seabed can cause significant disruptions, reducing the ocean’s ability to sequester carbon effectively.

To mitigate these negative effects, the report advocates for better fisheries management policies that take carbon sequestration into account. By reducing destructive fishing practices, particularly those that disturb seabeds, policymakers could help preserve the ocean’s ability to store carbon.

Aquaculture’s Untapped Potential

Aquaculture, or the farming of fish and other marine species, is another area that holds promise for enhancing oceanic carbon sequestration. The white paper suggests that certain aquaculture practices, especially the cultivation of species like seaweed, could contribute to carbon capture. Seaweed farming, for example, has been identified as a particularly effective method of drawing carbon out of the atmosphere. Seaweeds are fast-growing, and once they die, parts of them sink to the ocean floor, where their carbon is locked away.

Furthermore, aquaculture can serve as a sustainable alternative to traditional fishing methods, reducing pressure on wild fish populations and ecosystems. By expanding aquaculture and promoting practices that support carbon sequestration, there is potential for a more climate-friendly approach to seafood production.

Bridging the Knowledge Gaps

Despite the promising role of fisheries and aquaculture in carbon sequestration, the report points out several gaps in current research. While there is a strong understanding of the physical and chemical processes that capture carbon in the open ocean, much less is known about how these processes function in coastal areas. Given that most fishing occurs in these regions, this knowledge gap is critical.

The white paper advocates for more research into how different fish species and ecosystems contribute to carbon flows. In particular, it calls for better models that can integrate fisheries and carbon sequestration processes. To achieve this, the report suggests developing coupled food-web and carbon sequestration models. These would offer a more realistic picture of how marine ecosystems function and how fishing activities affect them.

Additionally, improving understanding of how different fishing practices, such as bottom trawling, influence carbon storage is essential. The report emphasizes the need for policy changes that prioritize both marine ecosystem health and climate benefits.

The World Bank's white paper "Understanding the Role of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Carbon Sequestration" highlights the untapped potential of marine life in the fight against climate change. By managing fisheries more sustainably and investing in aquaculture practices that support carbon sequestration, we can better leverage the ocean’s natural ability to store carbon. However, more research is needed to fully understand how these processes work, particularly in coastal regions where fishing activities are most concentrated.

As we continue to search for climate solutions, turning to the ocean could offer a critical—and underutilized—tool in reducing global carbon levels. With the right management and policy frameworks in place, the fishing industry and aquaculture could play an important role in mitigating climate change, ensuring both food security and environmental sustainability for future generations.

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