Having a fish tank as bad for environment as driving, study finds
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Owning an aquarium with tropical fish can emit as much greenhouse gases as driving thousands of miles, research shows
- The biggest environmental factors include the heating of the water and the country of origin
- An average tropical aquarium produces 85.3 – 635.2 kg of CO2 per year
Keeping an aquarium with tropical fish can emit as much greenhouse gases as driving thousands of miles in a car or motorcycle, a study has found.
The carbon footprint and environmental impacts of pet ownership were first calculated by Cardiff University’s Water Research Institute.
Dr. William Perry, research associate at the Institute, said: ‘In the UK, 4 million households own a pet fish and it is estimated that 70% of those who keep fish own a tropical freshwater aquarium.
“The carbon footprint of keeping pets, such as dogs and cats, has been calculated before, but we have provided the first estimates of the carbon dioxide emissions caused by running a tropical aquarium, as well as the estimated water consumption.”
Dr. William Perry developed estimates of the environmental impacts of fish farming in several countries in Northern Europe (France, Poland and the UK).
Keeping an aquarium with tropical fish can emit as much greenhouse gases as driving thousands of miles in a car or motorcycle, a study finds (file image)
The estimates are discussed in the context of freshwater and marine aquariums.
According to UK estimates, depending on size and conditions of use, an average tropical aquarium produces an estimated 85.3 – 635.2 kg of CO2 per year.
This is the same as traveling 3,483 miles on an average motorcycle, official data shows, and 2,265 miles in an average petrol car.
The Department of Transportation says the average motorcyclist makes about 440 trips a year on their machine and averages 4,800 miles a year.
This corresponds to approximately 875 kg of CO2.
The biggest environmental factors included the heating of the water, especially in larger aquariums, and the country of origin – due to different levels of decarbonization in power grids in different countries.
Dr. Perry added: ‘Keeping ornamental fish may be a more environmentally conscious pet choice than keeping an average sized dog or cat, which are likely to produce significantly more emissions from their meat consumption.
‘However, the environmental impacts of keeping fish can also be significant, depending on the size of the aquarium, how it is managed and even in which country it is located.
The Department of Transportation says the average motorcyclist makes about 440 trips a year on their machine and averages 4,800 miles a year (file image)
‘There are still improvements that can be made to ensure the ecological sustainability of the hobby.
“The environmental impact of the energy needs of fish farming will improve as national energy grids decarbonise, but reducing the environmental impact of high water use will not come easily and will require ingenuity at the individual level.
“These are important considerations as we face a climate crisis related to our energy demand, but also water insecurity related to our water demand.”
The research, The environmental impact of keeping a tropical aquarium in Northern Europe, is published in the Journal of Fish Biology.