SETTING SCIENCE-BASED TARGETS IN THE SEAFOOD SECTOR

The document outlines the business case and technical process for seafood companies to adopt Science-Based Targets (SBTs) to mitigate climate change. It highlights that while seafood generally has a lower carbon footprint than land-based proteins, the industry faces significant risks from ocean warming and acidification. The guide details a process of data collection, GHG accounting using Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), and target setting through the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Key reduction strategies include the electrification of fishing vessels, the development of low-carbon aquaculture feed, and the reduction of air freight. It emphasizes that Scope 3 emissions—particularly from feed and transport—represent the largest challenge and require pre-competitive collaboration across the value chain.

• Climate change poses material risks to the seafood industry through ocean warming, acidification, and rising sea levels, which affect fish distribution and productivity. Global marine animal biomass is projected to decrease by up to 17 per cent by 2100 in the absence of fishing.
• There is a strong business case for setting SBTs, including mitigating risks from incoming carbon taxes and regulatory taxonomies, capturing consumer premiums for low-carbon products, and unlocking 'blue finance' such as sustainability-linked loans and bonds.
• Greenhouse gas emissions in the seafood sector vary by segment: capture fisheries emissions are primarily driven by vessel fuel, while aquaculture emissions are dominated by the footprint of feed, including deforestation for soy and nitrous oxide from fertilizers.
• The industry lacks a uniform methodology for measuring Scope 3 emissions and conducting Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), leading to incomparable values across the value chain. There is a call for harmonization, such as the adoption of the EU's Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology.
• Significant emission reductions are possible in capture fisheries through technical improvements; a 10 to 30 per cent reduction in vessel emissions can be achieved via efficient engines, hull modifications, and speed reductions.
• For aquaculture, the primary mitigation lever is the transition to low-carbon feed ingredients and improving feed conversion rates. Novel ingredients and circular solutions are suggested to reduce reliance on commodity soy and fishmeal.
• The Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) requires companies to set targets for Scope 1 and 2, and for Scope 3 if it exceeds 40 per cent of total emissions. New criteria effective July 15, 2022, increase the minimum ambition for Scope 1 and 2 to a 1.5°C alignment.
• Carbon offsetting and avoided emissions do not count toward progress on SBTs, as the framework requires direct emission reductions within the company's own boundaries or value chain.

APA

WWF International (2022). SETTING SCIENCE-BASED TARGETS IN THE SEAFOOD SECTOR. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/721/8cn3jb0kvv_Seafood_Guide_20220329_v3.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. SETTING SCIENCE-BASED TARGETS IN THE SEAFOOD SECTOR. 2022. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/721/8cn3jb0kvv_Seafood_Guide_20220329_v3.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=SETTING SCIENCE-BASED TARGETS IN THE SEAFOOD SECTOR |date=28 March 2022 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/721/8cn3jb0kvv_Seafood_Guide_20220329_v3.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2022setting, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{SETTING SCIENCE-BASED TARGETS IN THE SEAFOOD SECTOR}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2022}, month = mar, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/721/8cn3jb0kvv_Seafood_Guide_20220329_v3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }