Mangaluru (The Hindu): Two-day workshop on the ‘use of space technology in fisheries’ begins

Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports K. Abhayachandra Jain on Monday urged the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to make more budgetary allocation for the modernisation and development of fishing harbours in the State.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating a two-day workshop on the “use of space technology in fisheries” here, he said that more funds should be allocated to the State for constructing breakwaters in select areas, as well as near fishing harbours, for preventing sea erosion.

Mr. Jain said that the State government gave subsidised diesel worth Rs. 100 crore to fishermen every year. In addition, it gave Rs. 1.20 lakh to poor fishermen every year as assistance for building houses.

Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare is organising the workshop.

The objective of the workshop is to explore the possibility of adopting space technology in fisheries to promote the use of space applications by various stakeholders. The government has proposed to develop an action plan to adopt space technology in the fisheries sector for the benefit of fishermen.

Space technology is useful in the fisheries sector for identification of potential fishing zones in sea, accurate weather forecast for fishermen and for measurement of area of aquatic resources for fish culture.

With the adoption of these technologies, the operational cost of fishing boats is expected to reduce, resulting in higher profit for fishermen. Accurate weather forecast will help in the safety of fishermen in sea.

Ashok Kumar Anugurana, Secretary, Union Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, said that the workshop would deliberate upon preparing an action plan for making the benefits of space technology reach fishermen.

Aditya Kumar Joshi, Joint Secretary of the Union Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, spoke.

N.S. Channappa Gowda, Secretary, State Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, welcomed the gathering.

Photo credit: The Hindu