With each fishing trip, fuel savings can be gained at various points, beginning with fishing vessel design and engine efficiency. Where and when people travel to fish are factors, as well as the kind of gear. Weight and resistance—when gear is in contact with the bottom, or fills up with fish—cause drag. The engine uses more fuel as it works harder against these forces.
“At this point, making money in groundfishing is all about the efficiency and business. Fishermen have some control over fuel use and small changes can have a positive impact on their businesses.” said Ben Martens, executive director of the Maine Coast Fishermens Association.”
“You can save up to 50 percent of what you spend on fuel by paying attention to your fuel usage and using gear that has less drag,” said Eayrs. As part of the project, Eayrs installed fuel-flow meters on the participating vessels. The meters act as a constant reminder to captains to watch how much fuel is being burned at any given time. “It raises my awareness of fuel,” said Travis Thorbjohnson, another fishermen participating in the research, “I see that when I ease back on the revs a little, I use less fuel but don’t lose speed. When I am towing for 24 hours, a little bit makes a difference.”
Read the complete article from The Working Waterfront.