PM’s recent reference to timely warnings from the Met department easing worries for families of lakhs of sea-bound fishermen brought into focus an unique system of sharing weather alerts through use of indigenously developed transponders on marine fishing vessels.
Odisha, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Diu, Goa, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have already installed transponders on more than 4,000 vessels under Centre’s plan to install one lakh such devices. in 13 coastal states/UTs by Dec.
The ones used in Odisha saved the lives of many fishermen who were out in the high seas during Cyclone Dana in Oct last year. The transponders are also very useful from a security point of view as they can be used for monitoring, control, and surveillance of marine fishing vessels.