title: Edible protein energy return on investment ratio (ep-EROI) for Spanish seafood products.
abstract: Life cycle assessment (LCA) has developed into a useful methodology to assess energy consumption of fishing fleets and their derived seafood products, as well as the associated environmental burdens. In this study, however, the life cycle inventory data is used to provide a dimensionless ratio between energy inputs and the energy provided by the fish: the edible protein energy return on investment (ep-EROI). The main objective was to perform a critical comparison of seafood products landed in Galicia (NW Spain) in terms of ep-EROI. The combination of energy return on investment (EROI) with LCA, the latter having standardized mechanisms regarding data acquisition and system boundary delimitation, allowed a reduction of uncertainties in EROI estimations. Results allow a deeper understanding of the energy efficiency in the Galician fishing sector, showing that small pelagic species present the highest ep-EROI values if captured using specific fishing techniques. Finally, results are expected to provide useful guidelines for policy support in the EU's Common Fisheries Policy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago, Spain, ian.vazquez@tudor.lu.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Rowe
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Villanueva-Rey
authors.forename: M Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: Gumersindo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Feijoo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005398:Fisheries / Q000191:economics; D005399:Fishes; D005523:Food Supply; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics*; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins
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