mKRISHI@Fisheries, the mobile advisory service providing information related to the sea, is getting overwhelming response, with the app making fishing activities less expensive and helping fishermen get improved catch.

The technology of the mobile advisory service was developed by the Mumbai Research Centre of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) and materialised by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) along with Tata Consultancy Service (TCS), under the National Agriculture Innovation Project (NAIP).

A study conducted by the CMFRI in 13 fishermen societies in Maharashtra found that the fishermen could save up to 30 per cent of fuel consumption with the help of the mobile app. The reduction of the fuel consumption has benefits in terms of environmental impact where an estimated 1.2 per cent of global oil production is consumed in fisheries.

This study also revealed that the app had a positive impact on the livelihood of the fishermen community with improved catch and reduced cost along with providing them safety and security in the sea.

The app provides information on Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) generated by INCOIS, sea surface temperature, weather and the presence of phytoplankton which form the food of several fish species based on the remote sensing data received from NOAA and Indian satellites. It consolidates these information and presents advisories in local languages, with easy to use icons on Java and Android mobile phones.

CMFRI has already piloted this service in 56 fishermen societies in Maharashtra.

VV Singh, Scientist-in-Charge of CMFRI’s Mumbai Research Centre, said that the app is widely being used among the fishermen to plan their fishing activities. The information on the presence of potential fishing zone has helped fishers reduce unnecessary trips and the associated cost of diesel, ice and labour, he said adding that the app is beneficial to the fishermen to get to know the wind speed and direction, wave heights in a colour coded band helping them identify the unsafe regions in sea.

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