An extensive field test of various wood types in the warm ocean off Brisbane, Australia was recently inspected at the 11-year point. This is a very aggressive site and in spite of this, there was no damage to the Accoya material while there was extensive damage from marine organisms on other wood types. Source: Timberbiz
The trial was set up by a large US preservative company, and the results were reported in a paper at the IRG Conference held in Australia at the end of May.
This data backs up the positive experience that Accoya Australian distributor, Britton Timbers, has been having with sales of Accoya to the oyster bed industry.
In Australia there is a booming industry in oyster farming going back to the 19th century; many of these oyster farms appear in river estuaries along the eastern and southern coast lines of Australia.
The oysters are caged in baskets strung between wooden poles and rails. The challenge is that these are very particular and challenging conditions in which the timber is to perform. Not only have you got the moisture and the warmth that would encourage rot and decay but there is actually a bigger problem than that: shipworms, that live in salt water.
One of a number of animals known as ‘marine borers’, these shipworms can quite easily eat through and undermine the structure of the wood.
So, to eliminate the problem, the wood needs to be given qualities and performance to resist rot and shipworms. Traditionally this was done with non-durable or chemically treated toxic wood species or products, until now.
The challenge is to find a more sustainable, non-toxic and durable alternative for these timber posts and rails.
Accoya is created with a different principle: the actual wood itself is changed and enhanced by boosting the presence of molecule groups that are already a natural part of the wood. It becomes more stable, more durable … and highly resistant (or unappetising) to shipworms.
Partnering with Britton Timbers, Accoya wood has been supplied for use for oyster seed trays and posts to Australian oyster farms since 2015 and is currently undergoing a testing program.
Testing of Accoya wood, undertaken by Australian Forestry Research Council, has seen posts of Accoya bedded in the estuary assessed over the course of two years between 2015 and 2017. There was a lot of aquatic life on the Accoya posts showing its compatibility with the local flora and fauna but when you clean it off and cut through the posts you can see the Accoya wood itself is pristine and clear of damage or decay with no evidence of shipworms boring themselves in the wood.
In the four years since then there is still good performance from the Accoya with no breakdown or durability issues. This test proves the combination of durability and non-toxicity is possible and effective, which over time can allow for the use of Accoya wood to replace the other wood species that have been used traditionally, making it the ideal material for oyster farms across Australia.
