Life Cycle Assessment of Seven Dolnet (Bagnet) Designs along the Maharashtra Coast, India: Establishing a Carbon Emission Baseline for Stationary Gear Systems

Abstract

The present study aimed to undertake a comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of dolnet fishing gear designs operated along the northwest coast of India in order to quantify their environmental performance and establish a carbon emission baseline for stationary bag net fisheries, which are extensively used but remain poorly documented in terms of environmental impacts. A comparative assessment framework was adopted to evaluate seven regionally important dolnet designs, considering variations in gear construction, material composition, vessel design characteristics, and operational fuel use. The study focused on identifying design specific drivers of environmental impacts. The investigation was carried out across five coastal districts along the northwest coast of India, namely Raigad, Mumbai, Palghar, Mumbai suburban and Ratnagiri districts of Maharashtra. Primary field data were collected from representative dolnet operations prevalent in these regions during the study period of January 2024 to December 2025. Primary data on vessel specifications, fuel consumption, fishing effort, and dolnet fabrication materials were collected through structured field surveys. Life Cycle Assessment modelling was performed using SimaPro 9.0 software in compliance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. Environmental impacts were assessed using the CML 2001 midpoint indicators and IPCC 100-year Global Warming Potential methodology. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the influence of material substitution scenarios on overall emissions. Seven dolnet designs were assessed, including Karanja dolnet and Rewas–Bodni dolnet from Raigad, Bokshi and Dabang dolnets from Versova (Mumbai), Pachubandar dolnet from Palghar, Mosquito and Sajachi dolnets from Ratnagiri. The results revealed substantial variation in environmental performance among designs. The Dabang dolnet from Versova exhibited the highest Global Warming Potential at 1,060.81 kg CO₂ equivalent per tonne of catch, whereas the Mosquito dolnet from Ratnagiri recorded the lowest impact at 311.86 kg CO₂ equivalent per tonne. Fuel consumption and polymeric material inputs emerged as the dominant contributors to emissions. Sensitivity analysis indicated that replacing 15 % of virgin HDPE with recycled HDPE could reduce emissions by approximately 10 to 12 %. This study establishes India’s first emission baseline for bag net fisheries and demonstrates significant scope for emission reduction through design optimisation, use of recycled or biodegradable materials, and improved energy efficiency, supporting climate-resilient and sustainable fisheries management in line with Sustainable Development Goal 14.