Results from the Exploratory Deepwater Purse Seining and Refrigerated Seawater Chilling System Demonstration Project

摘要

Project involved the demonstration of purse seining and use of on-board refrigeration (refrigerated seawater) systems in harvesting and preserving underutilized species of fish in the Gulf of Mexico. Objective was to determine if they were both technically and economically feasible. Major technical problem was the inability to bail fish at rates exceeding 20,000 pounds per hour. For an average set, this required over two hours to load fish on board vessel. Cost data indicate that purse seining is competitive with other harvestingmethods and the refrigeration system is less expensive than a conventional icing system and offers advantages in superior quality of fish and longer holding periods at sea.