Nordic Aquatic Food Systems : Greenhouse gas emissions in Nordic aquatic food production

Summary

This report assesses greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from aquatic food
production in the Nordic region, covering capture isheries, aquaculture, processing
and selected downstream activities. Drawing on national analyses from Denmark,
the Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, the report
synthesizes available data and research to provide a coherent overview of emission
levels, key drivers, and structural differences across countries and production
systems.
Results show that aquatic food production in the Nordic countries is characterized
by substantial variation in climate gas emissions, both between and within national
production systems. In capture isheries, fuel use is by far the dominant source of
greenhouse gas emissions, with emission intensity strongly in luenced by vessel
type, ishing gear, stock abundance, and operational practices. In aquaculture,
emissions are mainly driven by feed production and composition, as well as by
energy use in farming operations. Processing and transport contribute to total
emissions to a lesser extent, but their relative importance varies depending on
product type and energy mix.
In a comparative food system perspective, many Nordic aquatic food products
exhibit relatively low carbon footprints per unit of edible product compared to
terrestrial animal products, particularly ruminant meat. However, there is
signi icant heterogeneity across species and production methods. These indings
underline the importance of avoiding generalizations about “seafood” as a
homogeneous category when assessing climate performance.
The report highlights several common mitigation challenges and opportunities
across the Nordic region. Key options include improvements in fuel ef iciency and
leet modernization in capture isheries, shifts towards lower-impact feed
ingredients and feeding strategies in aquaculture, and increased use of low-carbon
energy sources throughout the value chain. Given the strong in luence of structural
factors such as geography, resource conditions, and energy systems, effective
mitigation strategies must be tailored to national and sector-speci ic contexts.
By providing a harmonized overview of greenhouse gas emissions from Nordic
aquatic food production, this report aims to support informed policy development,
future research, and industry efforts to reduce climate impacts, while safeguarding
sustainable resource use, food supply, and economic viability.

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DOI : doi.org/10.6027/temanord2026-5...
NVA : hdl.handle.net/11250/5596888