THE SUSTAINABLE FISHERMAN'S GUIDE

Whether you're chasing trophy bass or enjoying a weekend on the lake, this quick and easy guide breaks down the carbon footprint of a typical fishing trip and offers practical ways to offset it. Let’s fish smarter and keep our waters clean for generations to come.

What is your Sunday fishing trip doing to the environment?

Short answer: more than you might think.

Many anglers don’t realize the combined carbon emissions from towing, engine use, and even bait packaging can be significant. When you head out on your fishing trip, there are four key components to consider in your environmental footprint: towing your boat, running your boat's main engine, using the trolling-motor (if gas-powered), and ancillary activities (food, packaging, gear, bait, etc).

LET'S USE AN EXAMPLE

Here’s a realistic breakdown of emissions from a standard fishing outing involving a small gas-powered boat and a 100 km round-trip drive.

CALCULATING YOUR EMISSIONS

Want to understand your personal fishing footprint?
With just a few numbers - like distance, fuel efficiency, and engine run time - you can accurately estimate the emissions from your trip. And once you know your impact, you can take action to reduce or offset it!

Track your round-trip driving distance (km)
Note your vehicle’s towing fuel economy (L/100 km)
Estimate your boat engine run time and fuel burn
Multiply total litres of fuel × 2.31 kg CO₂/L

For example, 87.5 L of gas = 202 kg CO₂

It's as simple as that!

HOW TO OFFSET YOUR IMPACT

Reducing emissions is great - but what about the emissions you can’t avoid?

That’s where offsetting comes in. Whether you invest in certified projects or take local action, offsetting helps balance out your impact and contributes to a healthier planet.

OFFSET OPTION 1:
PAY FOR CARBON

Activism and boots-on-the-ground change-making is something we should all strive to do - but it's not a possibility for everyone. Rather than leave your carbon footprint unattended, balance the books financially. Here are a couple of options to pay for your offsets:

Invest in verified climate solutions (e.g., reforestation, clean energy)
Look for certified providers (Gold Standard, Verra, Climate Action Reserve)
Offset example: 260 kg CO₂ = 0.26 tonnes → ~$5.20 at $20/tonne

OFFSET OPTION 2:
ACT FOR CARBON

It's incredible what some elbow grease and enthusiasm can achieve - always remember, many hands make light work. You can offset your carbon footprint by participating in numerous opportunities for activism - ranging from self-led local initiatives to broader endeavours. Here are three great ways to get active and make a difference:

Plant Trees: One mature tree absorbs ~20 kg CO₂/year → Plant 13–15 trees per fishing trip
Host or Join a Shoreline Clean-Up
Improve Fuel Efficiency:
- Switch to ethanol-free fuel or a 4-stroke engine
- Use electric trolling motors whenever possible
- Carpool with fellow anglers

QUICK OFFSET GUIDE FOR ANGLERS

Here’s a simple reference table to help you act fast.
Whether you’re fishing solo or with friends, this guide shows how to estimate and offset emissions with either money or trees.

TOOLS FOR THE SUSTAINABLE ANGLER

Technology can make sustainable fishing easier.

There are plenty of apps and tools to help track, reduce, and offset your fishing emissions. Use them to stay informed and make greener decisions every trip.

carbonfootprint.com – General carbon calculators

climatehero.me – Personalized footprint tracker

Fuel-tracking apps (GasBuddy, Fuelio)

Boat engine usage calculators from manufacturers or marine groups