Life Cycle Assessment of Fish Carbon Footprints for Small-Scale Traders

Fish is one of the few animal sources of food mostly consumed worldwide. However, the transportation of fish releases harmful greenhouse gases, posing a serious threat of global warming effects. Transportation is usually done by motor taxis (tuk tuk), motorcycles (boda boda), and motor vehicle vans (matatu/probox) that support numerous fishmongers from the Lake to various destinations and cumulatively result in carbon emissions. The sustainable transport system for fish that is efficient and emits minimal greenhouse gases as compared to others is not known. Life Cycle Assessment framework was used to quantify the carbon footprints of fish from landing beaches, through transportation to consumption. The general objective of the study was to determine the life cycle of fish carbon footprints for small-scale traders with a specific objective to analyze the carbon footprint of fish per weight-kilometer moved using different motorized modes of transport. The research adopted was a descriptive design that involved a sample frame of 98 motors (14-seater van (matatu), probox van, and motorcycles). Stratified random sampling was employed. Primary data was collected using questionnaires and direct observation. Results showed that matatu emits an average of 0.66 L per kg-km; Probox emits 1.10 L per kg-km; motorcycles emit 2.17 L per kg-km when transporting fish. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed there was a statistically significant difference in the carbon footprints of the motorized modes of transport (F (2,77) =22.477, p<0.0005,
=0.05). Results indicate that different modes of transport emit and contribute to fish carbon footprints. The study concluded that there is a need for sustainable and efficient transportation practices and policies that aim at mitigating the effect of CO2 on climate change. The study recommended that the dominance of lower fish-carrying capacity modes be discouraged and initiate high fish-carrying capacity modes.