The SeaSTORE project is measuring how seabed trawling in the Irish Sea affects stored carbon. Scientists from Plymouth Marine Laboratory and other UK institutions followed commercial trawlers to track disturbed carbon from the seabed through the water column and toward the atmosphere. The work aims to close the evidence gap on whether trawling turns sediment into a net CO2 source, and by how much. Two research cruises in July and winter collected direct measurements during active fishing. The project partners with the fishing industry to study different gear types, sediment environments, and seasonal conditions. Findings will inform UK policy on net zero, biodiversity, and food security, balancing seafood production against potential carbon losses. The study also responds to a 2024 estimate suggesting up to 370 million tonnes of CO2 could be released annually from trawling, though that figure remains uncertain.
