Benefits and Risks of the Technological Creep of LED Light Technologies Applied to the Purse Seine Fishery

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The purse seine (PS) fishery with lamps is one of the most effective fishing techniques in the Mediterranean Sea, targeting phototactic organisms, such as anchovies and sardines. However, the employment of high-power lamps for many hours to aggregate fish schools involves an increase in costs for fuel and negative consequences on the environment. In this study, the catch efficiency of LED light technology was compared to the traditional incandescent lamp employed in the PS fishery in the Adriatic Sea. Three LED lights (white, blue, and pulsing) were compared with the incandescent lamp for catch efficiency, energy and hourly fuel consumption, CO(2) emissions, and economic costs. The white LED increased efficiency by more than 2 times per unit of energy and fuel consumption, while the pulsing LED and blue LED increased efficiency by about 6 and 9 times, respectively. The CO(2) emissions were reduced by approximately 2 and 8 times with white and blue LEDs, respectively. The potential positive economic impacts derived from the LED technology on the PS fishery in terms of fuel cost-saving percentages were all higher than 60%. This technology shows the potential economic benefits for fishermen and the mitigation of negative effects on the environment. ABSTRACT: This study is a first attempt to investigate the catch efficiency of LED light technology compared to the traditional incandescent lamp that is used in the purse seine fishery (PS) in the Central Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea). Catches per unit effort were adopted to assess the performance of lighting systems, considering the electrical energy and the fuel consumption as effort units. Concerning the catch efficiency, the white LED, which emits the same light spectra as the incandescent lamp, increased the yield by over 2 times per consumption unit of energy and fuel. The yield efficiency increased up to approximately 6 and 9 times when adopting the pulsing white or blue LED, respectively. These increases were due to the energy savings resulting from the flashing of the white LED or by the greater water penetration of the blue LED. No significant difference in target species sizes was detected between the use of LEDs and the incandescent lamp. The results obtained from estimates of the hourly fuel consumption and CO(2) emissions stress potential benefits in the reduction of the carbon footprint due to the use of LEDs within the PS fishery. Positive economic impacts were derived from the LED technology on the PS fishery, with the fuel cost-saving percentages all being higher than 60%. The LED technology clearly shows potential benefits at the economic level for the fishermen, and the possibility of mitigating indirect negative effects on the environment due to fuel combustion and greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, the application of new technology that improves the catch efficiency of fishing gears should be carefully considered. The lack of regulations controlling technological advancement could cause unwanted long-term effects.