Brazil said it is testing electric motors for winches on fishing vessels to reduce noise and emissions during fishing operations.
TV BRICS, a NAN partner, reported on Wednesday that the project was being implemented by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MPA) and the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF).
The trials are being conducted in the southern and southeastern regions of the country.
Representatives of the MPA and UFJF recently observed one of the tests in Torres, Rio Grande do Sul state.
The vessels involved are used for gillnet and trawl fishing.
The project is assessing the technology’s benefits to fishermen while considering vessel characteristics and the socio-economic conditions of fishing communities.
The team also presented the results of the trials and outlined plans for the next phase of the project.
The new equipment was installed on a vessel owned by fisherman Benjamin Alves, who participated in the trials.
Prof. Federico Sucunza, one of the project coordinators, said collaboration between researchers and fishermen was essential to the initiative.
“It was a very challenging task to bring this technology here and install it on traditional fishing vessels.
“There are many benefits: reduced noise and emissions, as well as all the positive impacts this can have on fishermen,” he said.
Sucunza said fishermen’s participation in developing and testing the technology had helped refine the equipment for practical use.
“It is the fishermen’s knowledge that ensures this technology, developed at the university, will be applied in real world conditions,” he said.
Alves, the first fisherman to receive the equipment under the project, said the installation of the electric motor could contribute to better working conditions on board.
The project is also evaluating the technology’s viability and adaptability to different fishing conditions.
According to the report, the experience in Torres could contribute to further improvements in the equipment and support future energy-transition measures in the fishing sector.
The initiative is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Brazil’s climate commitments.
The MPA-UFJF partnership aims to develop technologies that promote more sustainable fishing while reducing emissions and environmental impact without compromising fishermen’s working conditions.
Edited by Halima Sheji
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