The Union Fisheries department will soon roll out a vessel communication and monitoring system for the fisheries sector that will, among other things, strengthen existing arrangements for fishermen’s safety, boost conservation efforts, help better data collection through use of digital logbooks and support marketing of catch with real-time information on market prices.
The vessel communication and support system in marine fishing vessels is expected to be rolled out by March, say Union Fisheries department sources. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has developed transponders for two-way communication with indigenous research and development efforts using GSAT-6 satellite to cover the entire exclusive economic zone (EEZ ) up to 200 nautical miles.
The new facility will be made available to one lakh mechanised fishing boats at no expenses to the fishermen. The total cost of the project is over ₹364 crore, of which 60% will come from the Union government and the remaining 40% from the State government, the sources add.
