Australian prawn-trawling innovations for enhanced energy efficiency

This paper reviews prawn trawl innovations investigated by a collaboration between the Australian Maritime College – University of Tasmania and Sterling Trawl Gear Services over recent years. The review covers work on (i) implementing high strength netting in commercial trawls; (ii) quantifying drag due to T0 vs. T45 mesh orientation; (iii) the ‘W’ trawl system with reduced drag achieved by enhanced redirection of netting drag from the wings (and otter boards) onto centre-line ‘tongues’; (iv) batwing otter board with sail technology for superior lift-to-drag ratio; and (v) an alternative fuel-efficient steering mechanism.