ISRO’s prototype transponders to ensure fishermen’s safety

Sources at Fisheries department said that the devices are used as means of communication and makes tracking easier at times of distress.

“ISRO is conducting trials on 26 mechanised fishing boats from Kanniyakumari and Chennai district which are fitted with transponders which were developed on being tasked by the centre,” the source said. “This is a satellite based system which will help monitoring of the fishing vessels and to render assistance at the time of distress in deep sea up to 200 nautical miles,”The centre has also initiated the distribution of Distress Alert Transmitters (DATs) for mechanised boats, said an official explaining a host of measures which are in place.

Sources said the scheme, sponsored by the Centre, benefited as many as 1,600 mechanised fishing boats in the first phase and the rest of the fishing boats registered with the state fisheries department would be taken up in the upcoming phases.

“We have setup a seamless network of communication systems along the coast of Tamil Nadu for the safety of fishermen at sea. The project cost us Rs 62.14 crore and was undertaken as part of the World Bank funded Coastal Disaster Risk Reduction Project (CDRRP)”, the source said.

To disseminate information about weather warnings, distress calls, and potential fishing zones, wireless communication equipment (VHF sets) are being provided to fishermen of 15,004 motorised fishing boats and 2,535 mechanised fishing boats.

“For effective communication to a far off location and to have a continuous network coverage along the entire coast, the new VHF towers are being constructed at seven spots. Along with these the seven existing BSNL towers and one police tower are to be utilised. Control rooms are to be operational soon at 18 places and a central control room at the Directorate of Fisheries have been established for round the clock monitoring,” said Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar debating the demands for the department in the Assembly.