Carbon Emissions from Kerala Reservoirs: An Estimation Study
Thankam Theresa Paul*
ICAR-CIFRI Kochi Centre, CMFRI Campus, Kochi, Kerala (682 018), India
Abhirami Sajeevan
ICAR-CIFRI Kochi Centre, CMFRI Campus, Kochi, Kerala (682 018), India
Albin Albert C.
ICAR-CIFRI Kochi Centre, CMFRI Campus, Kochi, Kerala (682 018), India
Deepa Sudheesan
ICAR-CIFRI Kochi Centre, CMFRI Campus, Kochi, Kerala (682 018), India
Sandhya K.M.
ICAR-CIFT, Kochi, Kochi, Kerala (682 018), India
B.K. Das
ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore, Kolkata, West Bengal (700 120), India
DOI: NIL
Keywords: GHG, Kerala, Reservoirs, SDG
Abstract
Reservoirs in Kerala serve a variety of purposes, including fisheries, which can potentially contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study attempts to estimate methane and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from reservoir fisheries as a precursor for promoting it as sustainable development. The carbon emissions from small, medium and large reservoirs from Kerala were estimated at 314.25, 644.82 and 184.8 tonnes km-2day-1. Despite being conserved, Peechi reservoir alone is a source of 1.2 tonnes of methane km-2day-1 and 36 tonnes of carbon dioxide km-2day-1, respectively. GHG emission from Pothundi reservoir can be estimated at 1.089 tonnes km-2 of CO2 eq. and 0.363 tonnes km-2 of CH4. These carbon foot print estimates where less compared to the same from aquaculture ponds and marine fisheries of India. This in turn explains the need for development for reservoir fisheries as it adheres to sustainable development goals.
Downloads
not found
Reference
DoF, 2023. Reservoirs of Kerala. In: Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Kerala. Directorate of Fisheries, Vikas Bhavan, Thruvananthapuram. Available at: https://fisheries.kerala.gov.in/reservoirs-kerala. Accessed on: 11th July, 2023.
Jha, P.N., Antony, V.T., Baiju, M.V., Yasmi, V.S., Edwin, L., 2021. Carbon footprint and associated environmental impacts in construction of fishing vessels: A preliminary study. Fishery Technology 58, 18-24.
Phyoe, W.W., Wang, F., 2019. A review of carbon sink or source effect on artificial reservoirs. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 16(4), 2161-2174. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-019-02237-2.
St. Louis, V.L., Kelly, C.A., Duchemin, É., Rudd, J.W.M., Rosenberg, D.M., 2000. Reservoir surfaces as sources of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere: A global estimate: Reservoirs are sources of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere and their surface areas have increased to the point where they should be included in global inventories of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. BioScience 50(9), 766-775. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1641/0006-3568(2000)050[0766:RSASOG]2.0.CO;2.