The AEE granted $15,200 in financial assistance to the Association des Capitaines Propriétaires de la Gaspésie Inc. (ACPG) for field trials of Thyboron 15VF trawldoors on two shrimpers. This new technology should result in a reduction in fuel consumption while, at the same time, eliminating damage to the sea floor caused by conventional trawldoors. The project also evaluated the impact of the new technology on catch volume.
The 16-day trials were conducted in the Gulf of St. Lawrence aboard two 19.3-metre shrimpers, the Cap Diamant 1 and the Intrépide 3. The comparative trials involved making parallel passes with nets deployed (all the trawling equipment placed in the water), one equipped with standard trawldoors and the other with 15VF trawldoors.
Considered in isolation, the 15VF trawldoors were easy to handle and had no specific safety problems. They had no significant impact on the frequency of damage to the nets, the shrimp volume, or the incidental catch of other species. A significant 2% decrease in motor speed (rpm) as well as a significant 6.3% decrease in fuel consumption (16 L per pass) were measured. Major progress in understanding and perfecting this fishing equipment was made.
The use of these trawldoors could thus lead to annual savings of 6,300 litres of diesel per shrimper, which corresponds to 18 tons of CO2, or the equivalent of removing 5 standard vehicles from the road.
These trials were the first in a series that ACPG Innovations intends to conduct over the next few years in order to reduce fuel consumption as well as damage to the seafloor caused by deep water trawling.
The Association des Capitaines Propriétaires de la Gaspésie Inc. (ACPG) is a group of captain owners of midshore and inshore fishing boats who mainly fish the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The ACPG Innovations section was set up in fall 2009 to support technological development by the Association.
This financial assistance was granted under the Energy Innovation Assistance Program (PAIE), which is intended to support the development of new energy efficiency and emerging energy technologies.
To find out more about AEE programs, consult the Programs and financial assistance section.
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