May 21, 2026
Letter: Fisheries sector as a mitigation wedge
In a recent correspondence published in Science, Solving-FCB Co-PIs Dr. William Cheung, Dr. Rashid Sumaila, and Sea Around Us PI Dr. Daniel Pauly argue that the global marine fisheries sector could serve as a vital, yet overlooked, climate mitigation “wedge”. Currently, the combined carbon footprint of fishing fleet fuel use and the carbon resuspended from seabed sediments by bottom trawling totals roughly 0.5 gigatonnes of CO₂ per year. By decarbonizing fleets, eliminating harmful fuel subsidies, and banning destructive trawling practices, we can significantly curb these emissions while safeguarding ocean carbon sinks. Implementing these reforms would not only support climate stabilization targets but also restore marine biodiversity and secure low-carbon food resources for the future.