Drone technology is expected to revolutionise India's marine fisheries sector

A joint effort of the Union Ministry of Fisheries, National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), and ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) is underway to promote and popularize drone applications in the country's marine fisheries. This initiative aims to significantly enhance the efficiency of fisheries management, sea cage farming, disaster management, and ecosystem conservation. An awareness workshop and drone demonstration for fishermen and fish farmers will be held at CMFRI on November 8 to showcase the prospects of drone applications for various purposes. These include aquaculture input dispensing, live fish transportation, rescue operations, water sampling, underwater imaging, water body monitoring and mapping, and marine mammal stock assessment, among others. Union Minister of State for Fisheries George Kurian will inaugurate the workshop, followed by a demonstration of potential drone applications. Referring to the benefits of drone technology, CMFRI Director Grinson George stated that it would significantly enhance efficiency, reduce labor costs, and minimize environmental impact. "It could be used in cage fish farming operations both in coastal and offshore waters for monitoring fish health, assessing water quality parameters, and optimizing feed distribution. Drones can also aid in early detection of algal blooms and other environmental threats to the farming," he explained. He added that this technology could also be utilized for monitoring paddy seedlings in Pokkali farms. Another significant benefit of this technology is that it enables fish farmers to obtain reasonable market prices for their high-value cage-farmed fish. Drones can efficiently transport live fish from remote aquaculture sites to markets as needed, ensuring freshness and reducing transportation time. Moreover, applying drones would improve marine mammal stock assessment and facilitate easy surveillance of their interactions, including strandings. This technology could also be employed for deploying life jackets for rescue operations during emergency situations.