Fuel efficiency

With 70-80% of fuel being used in actually towing fishing gear Seafish research has focused on examining ways of reducing the overall drag of the fishing gear.

Seafish offers a unique and bespoke advice service to UK fishermen. This advice provides fishermen with information on fuel efficiency in all aspects of their gear and vessel performance. It has to be stressed that with towed gear approximately 75 - 80% of fuel is used in towing the gear, therefore, this is where the greatest savings can be made.

Seafish has investigated a number of technologies being profited as offering real fuel saving opportunities for the UK fishing fleet. 

Fuel Flow Meters
Fuel Flow Meters - individual and turnkey

Fuel meters have been fitted to a range of vessels around the UK initially to evaluate any changes in engine efficiency as the result of using one of the fuel saving devices. This proved unfeasible due to the variability's described above. However the fuel flow meters did prove useful to the skipper's in highlighting the change in the vessels fuel consumption as a result of altering the engine revs. Minimal reductions in revs resulted in substantial reductions in fuel usage. Several of the skippers commented that this information alone would result in the meter paying for itself in less than 6 months.

Fuel Additives

Seven fuel additives were tested. The results of tests showed minimal fuel savings when additives were added to standard red diesel (<0.35%).

Fuel emissions

This fact sheet describes the fuel used by the fishing sector, it outlines the current emissions regulations and how these may affect the fishing industry. It also provides an overview of a fishing vessels 'carbon footprint' and how it can be improved.

For further information please contact:

Mike Montgomerie
Gear Technologist
e: m_montgomerie@seafish.co.uk
t: 01472 252327