Gaby
Global warming is so familiar it’s hard to shock anyone. But few people realize that something as small and harmless-seeming as a tropical fish tank can cause real damage to the environment. A recent study found that running a tropical home aquarium can produce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to driving a car or motorcycle for thousands of miles.
Tropical aquariums contribute to global warming
The Water Research Institute has, for the first time, calculated the carbon footprint and environmental impact of pet ownership. Dr. William Perry says that in the UK alone, 4 million households keep pet fish. It’s estimated that 70% of aquarium owners maintain tropical freshwater tanks. While researchers have previously measured the carbon footprints of dogs and cats, this is the first study to assess the water use and carbon emissions from operating tropical aquariums.
Dr. Perry has developed assessments of the environmental impact of aquarium keeping across several Northern European countries. The study examined both freshwater and marine aquariums. According to British researchers, depending on size and operating conditions, an average tropical aquarium emits roughly 85.3 to 635.2 kg of CO2 per year. Official data equates that to riding 5,605 km on an average motorcycle or 3,645 km in a standard gasoline car. By comparison, the average motorcyclist makes about 440 trips a year and travels roughly 7,700 km, which corresponds to about 875 kg of CO2 annually.
So, what exactly is the harm caused by tropical aquariums, and how can it be mitigated? The largest contributor to emissions from tropical aquariums is the heating of water, especially in larger tanks. The environmental impact also varies by country based on how fully decarbonized the electricity grid is. Dr. Perry tells the Daily Mail that keeping an aquarium can sometimes be a greener pet choice than owning a medium-sized dog or cat, because those pets create emissions linked to meat-heavy diets. Still, he says, fishkeeping’s footprint can be substantial depending on tank size, maintenance, and the country’s electricity mix.
Dr. Perry says there are still improvements that can make the hobby more sustainable. He suggests energy-related emissions from fishkeeping should fall as electricity grids decarbonize. Cutting the large water use in aquariums will be harder and may require creativity by hobbyists. Dr. Perry says the study highlights areas that need careful attention.
