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Reply to: Quantifying the carbon benefits of ending bottom trawling

Published Article

Global

Publication date: May 10, 2023

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An international team of marine scientists responds to critiques of seabed carbon estimates associated with bottom trawling. This Nature Matters Arising article clarifies assumptions, evaluates evidence, and reinforces the scientific basis for understanding carbon disturbance in marine sediments, drawing on expertise from institutions across the US, Europe, Australia, and Canada.

Subject Tags

  • Blue carbon
  • Conservation Planning
  • Carbon storage

Abstract

Hiddink et al. challenged earlier estimates of how much seabed carbon is remineralized by bottom trawling. In this Matters Arising reply, Atwood and colleagues argue that the critique relies on incorrect assumptions and lacks quantitative support for several claims. The authors reaffirm that bottom trawling can substantially disturb marine sediments and mobilize stored carbon, drawing on established sediment biogeochemistry and global assessments of benthic disturbance. They clarify methodological choices, address misinterpretations, and emphasize that available evidence supports the conclusion that bottom trawling contributes meaningfully to carbon loss from seabed ecosystems. 

Citations

Atwood, T. B., Sala, E., Mayorga, J., Bradley, D., Cabral, R. B., Auber, A., ... & Lubchenco, J. (2023). Reply to: Quantifying the carbon benefits of ending bottom trawling. Nature, 617(7960), E3-E5.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06014-7

TNC Authors

  • Jennifer McGowan
    The Nature Conservancy