Resources here relate to publications and articles relating to options for alternative energy to help power the seafood industry.

Biodiesel for the fishing industry - viable option or optimistic dream?

Article in the October/November 2009 issue of Fishing Today - Tasmanian Seafood Industry News.  Reports on a Fisheries Research & Development Corporation study on the viability of using biodiesel in the Western Australian rock lobster fleet.

Caslake, R. et all.: Biodiesel at Sea. Seafish report, 2008

Reports on a comparative fuel consumption test of red (fossil) diesel and biodiesel in a ~10 m class potting vessel.  The sea trials demonstrated that both fuels started the engine equally well, and the vessel was felt to handle and perform equally well with either fuel.

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Rossiter, T.; Lawton, M; Smith, W: Biofuels - an investigation into the use of Pure Plant Oil as a replacement for Marine Diesel. Seafish report, 2008

This project investigated the use of pure plant oil (PPO) in a trawler. The aim of this trial was a technical investigation of the technology and PPO.  A dual tank system under electronic control to automate the use of PPO in a diesel engine was developed.  The engine started on conventional marine diesel (or biodiesel) and then automatically switched over to the lower cost, more environmentally friendly PPO.  Although the converted trawler functioned satisfactorily initially, in terms of emissions, fuel consumption and motive power, mechanical failure of certain key parts did result.

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Rossiter, T; Caslake, R.: Biofuel for the Fishing Industry Final Report. Seafish report, 2008.

This report details a research and development project to investigate the potential of biofuels for the fishing industry. In the project two types of fuel were studied, biodiesel and pure plant oil. Over the course of the study both fuels were tested on land and at sea and proved to be technically successful. The main driver for uptake of the alternative technology in the fishing industry is economic and the study found that in most cases fossil fuels will remain more cost effective for fishing business in the short to medium term. That said there may be some opportunities in more remote communities where used vegetable oil is available and the cost of transporting diesel oil into the area push the price above that of locally produced biofuels.

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Sterling, D.; Goldsworthy, L.: Alternative fuels and efficient engines. Australian Fisheries Research, 2007.

This report prepared for the Australian Fisheries Research and Development Corporation examines the potential use of alternative fuels to petro diesel to power fishing vessels.  Alternate fuels considered include biodiesel, liquid petroleum gas, liquid natural gas, ethanol and hydrogen.