The coastal communities in Kerala will soon have something more than a prayer on their lips when they put out to sea for fishing.
They will soon be part of a nationwide information network enabling them to receive ocean state forecast, early warning about adverse weather conditions, and advisories on potential fishing zones.
Put in place by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, and the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), the Fisher Friend network uses communication technology to ensure safety at sea and improve their livelihood.
First phase In the first phase, the Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha and Kollam districts will be covered in a phased manner, according to S. Velvizhi, programme coordinator.
Initially, the project targets the coastal villages of Vizhinjam, Poovar, Karakulam, Veli, Poonthura, Marianadu and Anchuthengu in Thiruvananthapuram.
Fishermen in these villages will receive local- specific audio advisories as voice SMS on their registered mobile phones.
They can also dial up a 24X7 helpline service (859384066/ 7558829331) for real time data on wave height, wind speed and direction and disaster alerts for cyclone, tsunami and high waves.
The Fisher Friend service will also offer information on potential fishing zones, market conditions, sustainable fisheries, marine conservation, fisheries schemes and entitlements and emergency relief.
Dr. Velvizhi said around 1,00,000 fishermen in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha were already using the Fisher Friend service to minimise risks and navigate to fishing grounds.
The weather warning system relies on a network of wave rider buoys, tide gauges and shore stations to generate real time information on waves, tides, ocean currents, sea surface temperature and movement of fish shoals.
This input is supplemented by satellite data to generate site-specific forecasting models.
Data use “The data can also be used for climate studies, coastal zone management, oil exploration, navigation of ships, rescue operations at sea and scientific research”, says T.M.Balakrishnan Nair, Head, Information Services and Ocean Sciences Group at INCOIS.
The Fisher Friend service for Kerala was inaugurated at Vizhinjam on Saturday.
