Government has Identified 3 Areas for use of IT in Fisheries

NEW DELHI: The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has identified three areas for use of Information Technology (IT) in fisheries namely (i) dissemination of information to marine fishers on Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ), (ii) weather assessment, forecasting & forewarning and (iii) real time monitoring and tracking of fishing vessels. Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) presently provides the “Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) Advisories” using satellite data and Geographic Information System (GIS). The INCOIS has reported that currently about 2,50,000 fishermen in the country are using this information. Presently, the Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories are disseminated through Electronic Display Boards installed at fishing harbours/fish landing centers/ fishing hamlets/fishermen cooperative societies, local cable TV networks, radio, INCOIS web site, email, Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS), mobile applications viz. Fisher Friend Mobile Application (FFMA) etc. Besides, the dissemination of fishery related information is also being done through web based media networks like mKRISHI, NeGPA and other web portals including social media.

The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Development of Marine Fisheries, Infrastructure and Post Harvest Operations provides financial assistance for supply of safety kit consisting of GPS, Communication equipment, echo-sounder and search and rescue beacon to fishermen.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Mohanbhai Kalyanji bhai Kundariya in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.