Fuel is a vital but costly input to seafood production, accounting for a large proportion of the operating costs of a fishing vessel in Australia. An estimated 270 million litres of diesel fuel is used in Australian fisheries each year. With oil set to reach $100 a barrel by the end of 2008 and with production set to peak as early as 2015 (according to predictions by Chief Economist at CIBC World Markets, Jeff Rubin), urgent action is needed to investigate alternative fuel options for the Australian fishing fleet. The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) is funding a $137,000 project led by Dr Laurie Goldsworthy at the Australian Maritime College to explore alternative fuels such as biodiesel, LPG, ethanol and natural gas. The use of these fuels is being evaluated through a combination of existing data and engine trials. The fuels are being evaluated for their availability, suitability for use in marine diesel engines and greenhouse gas emissions. Other technologies that enable the use of these fuels are also being evaluated. One option under investigation is the use of fish waste for production of diesel engine fuel.

Source Fishing Today Tasmania Fishing Industry News

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