Page 42 - ITU Kaleidoscope 2016

2016 ITU Kaleidoscope Academic Conference

2. BACKGROUND to get an idea of the state of the ocean at any given point of
time and forms the basis of the EWS (Fig. 2).
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services
(INCOIS) generates Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) and But there were challenges associated with the distribution
Ocean State Forecast (OSF) Advisories (fig. 1) for Indian of this information to the fisher population. Hence,
coastal region [8]. It processes the Chlorophyll and TSM mKRISHI® Fisheries, a Java (J2ME) and Android mobile
images received from Oceansat-2 and Sea Surface based application (Fig. 2) were developed for the fishermen
Temperature (SST) images from NOAA-18/19 and MetOp- [9]. This mobile app translated the information in the local
A/B satellites. These images are further processed for regional language (Marathi) in Maharashtra State of India.
geometric correction, filtering and are geo-coded. The PFZ The services were piloted in Raigad district of Maharashtra
map helps fishermen to plan their fishing locations [4]. (India). This app helped spread the services quickly in the
region and was accessible to a large population.
OSF services display the temporal and spatial aspects of the
sea using Wind Speed and Direction, Swells and Wave Advance information helped fisher to identify the PFZ
height parameters (fig. 1). These images are generated four location, estimate the trip duration, and accordingly budget
times a day, five days in advance. These images show the the fuel, ice and labor requirement. Wind speed image
regions of sea in different colors. Each color indicates the (fig.2) helped them in finding out the areas where sea is
intensity of the wind speed or the wave height. Higher the calm and where it is turbulent. This brought more discipline
intensity, the more dangerous the zone will be. Hence, in the trip planning and risk assurance, leading to savings in
availability of this information in advance helps fishermen diesel, cost and life. Planning the boat cruise, in the
direction of the wind, reduced the drag on the boat and
hence improved the diesel efficiency. This further resulted
in the saving of fuel. Pre-planning can help save diesel,
Wind Speed-Direction reduction in CO 2 emission and cost of catch too. This can
make the fishing safer and sustainable [9].

Wave Heights
During fishermen group discussions (FGDs) the fishermen
highlighted that though the information helped them to plan
Potential Fishing Zone Map a safe trip and saved diesel, they also complained that the
information could not be updated while they were at deep
sea. This was especially true for the multi-day trawlers
Potential Fishing Zone Info
going for up to 10 to 15 days of fishing trip. The mobile
service network was available only up to 5-8 kms in the sea
and hence, it was difficult for them to get the latest
Port Weather Forecast
information while they were away in the deep sea. This
Cyclone News, Fish Price … effectively reduced the utility of the EWS system.
Fisheries Services Potential Fishing Zone

Zones with varying wind speed Zones with varying Wave Height
th
As shown in fig. 1, during the 48 hours period between 10
th
and 12 June 2011, the wind speed near Raigad coast,
increased from 27 kmph to 81kmph. Even at a speed of 20-
25 kmph a small four cylinder boat can behave like a toy in
the ocean. This caused the sinking of two boats, 20kms
from the coast. An investigation in the incident concluded
that the boats were loaded with the catch and were enroute
to the landing center. Unaware of the sudden development,
they were caught in the turmoil at sea. A EWS with the
extended mobile network in sea could have helped to replan
their route or navigate towards a calmer area in the deep
sea. This incident led to the research on the extension of
the wireless signal (preferred mobility) in deep sea to
support the mKRISHI Fisheries services.

18 kmph 35kmph 60 kmph 80 kmph 3. MATERIAL AND METHOD
We studied three popular modes of the ICT techniques
(fig.3).
1. Wireless (VHF) Transceivers (Walkie-talkie)
Figure 2. mKRISHI Fisheries service with PFZ, Wind 2. Satellite based (Satellite phones and Direct To
Speed and Wave height services Home (DTH))

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