NCKU Innovates LED Modular Fish-Attractive System to Boost Green Fishery

A high-brightness light-emitting diode (LED) fish lamp featuring in fish attraction light pattern is innovated by Professor Ming-Chung Fang and Sheng-Chih Shen of Department of Systems and Naval Mechatronic Engineering at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), southern Taiwan, to enhance the efficiency of fish aggregating and energy saving.

Fish attraction light pattern, the original design of the NCKU research team, employed biological phototaxis, LED underwater transfer model and energy mapping may be the first attempt in the world to apply the concept of illumination pattern to fishing lights, according to Fang.

The device using fish attraction light pattern will not only lure the fish stay in the pattern but reduce the fuel consumption significantly, Shen added.

The findings shed light on contemporary fisheries research and benefit the fishermen in Taiwan and other regions as well.

Using the LED fish lamp can reduce by 15%-20% of the ship's overall fuel consumption, according to the study.

The research project is supported by Ministry of Education (MOE) and Fisheries Agency, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan (FA, COA) and the initial results of the technology has been transferred to two local manufacturers, said Shen adding that the lamp has been successfully assembled in some of Taiwan's coastal fishing and far-sea fishing vessels.

If all fishing vessels in Taiwan use LED lamps, the fishermen will save a total of NT$600 million to NT$700 million in fuel costs each year, according to the statistics compiled by the research.

The device with modular design can be assembled effortlessly and adjusted to the proper angle according to the habit of the fish, said Shen adding that the design will cut down remarkably on the costs of maintenance.

For Taiwan fishery example, in terms of far-sea fishery, the cost of fuel can be curtailed by 18%, with NT$560 million dollars in a year; on the other hand, in coastal fishery, up to 20% fuel consumption can be saved, with NT$1,100 million dollars in a year.

In addition, the professor said the LED lamp is also safer for fishermen, who are often exposed to hazardous ultraviolet rays emitted by traditional fishing lamps.

One group of residents have made an estimated 100,000 of annual energy savings following the success of a pioneering community project aimed at lowering carbon emissions.

The Low Carbon Zone scheme was launched by Richmond Council with the help of British Gas in 2010 and more than 1,000 people have joined, with friends and neighbours signing up as street champions who patrol Ham and Petersham sharing energy saving ideas.

Street champion Justine Glynn, of Lake Crescent, Ham, said: “I wanted to give something back and encourage my neighbours to get involved and benefit from energy saving measures.

Changes adopted by Ham and Petersham residents include 86 per cent of households installing real time energy monitors to measure electricity usage, 82 per cent installing radiator foils, 63 per cent installing TV standby saver extension plugs and 53 per cent using energy-saving light bulbs.

Shops got in on the action with energy efficient LED spot lights, and schools installed solar panels and started growing their own vegetables.