Global warming has become such a widespread phenomenon that it’s hard to surprise anyone with it. However, few realize that even something seemingly small and harmless can cause significant harm to the environment. A recent study has shown that keeping tropical fish in an aquarium can lead to greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those produced by driving a car or motorcycle for thousands of miles.
Tropical aquariums contribute to global warming
The Water Research Institute has calculated the carbon footprint and environmental impact of pet ownership for the first time. Dr. William Perry notes that in the UK alone, 4 million households own pet fish. Interestingly, it’s estimated that 70% of aquarium enthusiasts maintain tropical freshwater tanks. While scientists have previously assessed the carbon footprint of owning pets like dogs and cats, this is the first study to evaluate the water consumption and carbon emissions resulting from the operation of tropical aquariums.
Dr. Perry has developed assessments of the impact of aquaristics on the environment across several Northern European countries. The study examined both freshwater and marine aquariums.
According to British scientists, depending on the size and operating conditions, an average tropical aquarium produces approximately 85.3 to 635.2 kg of CO2 per year. Official data indicates that this is equivalent to riding 5,605 km on an average motorcycle or 3,645 km in a standard gasoline car. It’s worth noting that the average motorcyclist makes about 440 trips a year and travels approximately 7,700 km annually, which amounts to roughly 875 kg of carbon.
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. Additionally, the environmental impact varies by country due to different levels of decarbonization in electrical grids. Dr. Perry tells the Daily Mail that decorative aquaristics can be a more environmentally conscious choice for a pet than owning a medium-sized dog or cat, which likely produce significantly more emissions due to meat consumption. However, he believes that the environmental impact of keeping fish can also be considerable, depending on the size of the aquarium, how it’s maintained, and even the country in which it’s located.
As Mr. Perry points out, there are still improvements that can be made to ensure the ecological sustainability of this hobby. He suggests that the environmental impact from the energy needs of fishkeeping will improve as energy grids begin to decarbonize. However, reducing the significant water consumption associated with aquariums may be more challenging and could require individual ingenuity. The researcher emphasizes that this study is crucial and calls for a careful approach to address the issues it raises.