The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) in Hyderabad, an organisation under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, has been working with NGO Pondicherry Multipurpose Social Service Society (PMSSS) for the past several years in passing on ocean-related information to fishermen.
INCOIS provides ocean forecasting, information on potential fishing zones, tsunami early warning, high wave and storm surge warnings. INCOIS had deployed a Wave Rider Buoy 5 km off the coast of Puducherry in 2008 in association with PMSSS. The buoy provides vital ocean state forecasting for Puducherry and adjoining coastal regions. INCOIS had also set up a data receiving centre at PMSSS in 2008.
Speaking to The Hindu on the sidelines of the Tsunami Decennial Remembrance in Puducherry organised recently by Caritas India, T.M. Balakrishnan Nair, Head of Information Services and Ocean Sciences Group, INCOIS, said, “The tsunami had induced a fear psyche among the fishermen. By providing accurate ocean information to them, we have been able to address this issue. The setting up of an efficient information system has created a synergy between scientists, NGOs and fishermen,” said Mr. Nair. INCOIS makes changes to its products and services based on feedback collected from the fishermen by PMSSS and other NGOs.
While it took time for the fishermen to trust the devices, they have now learnt about its usefulness, said Mr. Nair. Fishermen have seen the accurate forecast during the Thane and Phailin cyclones, he said.
“Efficient information system has created a synergy between scientists, NGOs and fishermen”
