When we think of carbon emissions we might tend to only think of automobiles, trucks and buses, but the atmospheric effects of carbon emissions from boats are now significant as well. Consider the tourism industry alone. Experts have estimated that so-called recreational boats. water taxis, speedboats, and the like use up to a hundred million gallons of fuel every year, really an astonishing amount. Biodiesel fuel could help alleviate these marine emissions. Recreational boaters who use biofuel will still be able to go as fast on the water as they would with other fuels, and at the same time they would not have to breathe in exhaust. And if you operate watercraft that take tourists around on sightseeing tours, or you ferry tourists from the mainland to a vacation island, then biodiesel can benefit you and your clients. First, tourists won't have to deal with noxious fumes, making the trip more pleasant and odor-free. (You won't have your guests coughing or rubbing their eyes for once.) And some tourists have even reported that on boat trips powered by biofuel, they noticed that the aroma produced by the fuel smelled like fried foods. Not only is that more pleasant than the smell of gasoline, but it could also make guests hungry for fried foods, and induce them to head straight for the fried-clam stand upon arriving on shore, which would provide a boost to local food merchants.

Another great thing about biodiesel fuel is that it will not hurt fish or other sea life. In fact, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, also known as NIOSH, has officially labeled the threat of biodiesel to any sea life as insignificant in its Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances. Therefore, people who fish for a living can take umbrage knowing that biodiesel fuel will help ensure the survival of healthy supplies of fish. In fact, should any amount of biodiesel fuel spill into a body of water, after a short period of time it will have totally biodegraded. (As noted earlier, it degrades at about the same rate of sugar.) Compare this to the devastating effects that oil and gasoline spills at sea can have on marine life.

For safety reasons biodiesel is also ideal for ships that cross the ocean or otherwise travel long distance: after all, unlike gasoline, biodiesel won't blow up your boat should there be some kind of fire on board. And given its burgeoning reputation, even the U.S. Coast Guard and some major marine research scientists have begun using biodiesel fuel in some cases. There may come the day when all watercraft operate on biodiesel fuel.

Not only does biodiesel show promise in the marine trade, but it likewise has the potential to revolutionize the farming and agricultural industries.