Editorial Note: This editorial was originally published on July 29, 2009 in response to a proposal in Greenland to convert Greenland shark bycatch into biofuel. ORS (GEERG) was among the first organisations to publicly question the proposal and warn that assigning commercial value to Greenland shark bycatch could inadvertently encourage a directed fishery targeting one of the world’s most biologically vulnerable shark species. These concerns were later echoed by other shark researchers and conservationists, including in articles that cited this editorial [1]. Ultimately, the proposed biofuel project never moved beyond the planning stage.

A new “green” use for an ancient shark

A proposal in Greenland would see Greenland shark bycatch converted into a new source of energy in the form of biofuel. Proponents of the idea believe that shark meat, particularly the oil-rich liver, combined with wastewater and macroalgae could be processed to produce biogas for powering isolated communities. In a part of the world where this shark species has long been regarded as a nuisance by some fishermen, and where certain municipalities still pay a bounty for every shark heart brought to port, one cannot help but question whether all sharks destined for the biogas plant would, in fact, be caught accidentally.

When bycatch becomes a commodity

Equating dead sharks with a financial reward could lead to increased numbers of sharks being killed and ultimately create a directed fishery with unknown consequences for the marine ecosystems of Greenland and neighbouring Canada. This concern is particularly troubling given that the Greenland shark is especially vulnerable to overfishing. It grows slowly, takes many years to reach sexual maturity, and produces relatively few young.

The seductive appeal of “bio”

In a world where marketing strategies often shape public perception, adding the prefix “bio” is frequently enough to encourage people to believe that a product is inherently good for the environment. Transforming an unfortunate reality, bycatch, into something seemingly beneficial, such as biofuel, may sound appealing, but only so long as it does not create incentives to exploit a fragile and largely unknown species.

Nature already recycles bycatch

Bycatch undoubtedly takes a heavy toll on the world’s oceans, but it does not necessarily go to waste when left in the sea. Dead animals, including sharks, are rapidly recycled on the seafloor, providing food for countless scavengers and other organisms searching for their own “biofuel.” This is arguably a more sustainable way for nature to recycle bycatch, as it neither produces greenhouse gas emissions through industrial processing nor creates a financial incentive to kill sharks intentionally.

A conservation concern that remains relevant

Transforming Greenland shark bycatch into a commercial and polluting by-product would only worsen an already untenable predicament.

(1) Shiffman, D. (2011, April 2). How not to save the environment: Sharks as biofuel. Southern Fried Science. https://www.southernfriedscience.com/how-not-to-save-the-environment-sharks-as-biofuel