The Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Bengaluru, is gearing up to launch a mobile application based on electronic data acquisition system in Karapuzha and Banasura Sagar reservoirs to provide accurate data on inland fish catch to tribal fishermen in the district.
According to M. Firozkhan, Scientist-in-Charge, CIFRI, the app has been piloted in Karnataka.
Speaking at a function organised at Pookode on Sunday to handover fibreglass coracles provided by the CIFRI to tribal fishermen of Nellarachal in the district, Dr. Firozkhan said the process of getting the fish-catch data involves physical visits by scientists or officials to the water bodies. There is no authentic fish-catch data, especially on continuous basis, for the inland water bodies. This is because of the huge number of water bodies, their distant location and the difficulty in last-mile connectivity. What has further complicated the task is the severe shortage of manpower in the government establishments to make such visits.
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“The mobile app developed by the CIFRI takes care of these obstacles. A fisherman can be trained in using it within ten minutes,” he said.
The CIFRI would identify a few fishermen and women who can read, write and send the data. Designated as Fishery Friends, they will upload the data on the mobile phone on the different types of fish caught in the water bodies assigned to them.
All that they have to do is to type the numbers against the names of different fish varieties. As soon as the uploading of data is done, it is automatically recorded in the central server.
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“The feedback has been good so far,” Dr. Firozkhan said adding that the project would be implemented in the State after fine-tuning it.
Minister for Welfare of the Scheduled Tribes P.K. Jayalakshmi handed over eight fibreglass coracles to the fishermen.
Fishermen to be trained as Fishery Friends to handle app
CIFRI provides fibreglass coracles to tribespeople