Satellite tech for marine fishing

A littoral country of the Indian Ocean region, Bangladesh has an excellent source of marine resources. It is one of the world's wealthiest ecosystems with high productivity of the Bay of Bengal. The country has a high potential for exploiting marine resources through sustainable management of the Bay to the benefit of the economy. A direct benefit of goods and services generated by marine and coastal ecosystems comes in the form of fisheries and aquatic resources, which create livelihood opportunities in fishing, farming and post-harvest economic activities. In Bangladesh, more than 80 per cent of animal protein comes from fish, whereas marine fisheries production is only 16.28 per cent of national fish output.

This is largely because fishermen still use traditional method for fishing. Most of them access fishing grounds through experience, not by using any scientific method. Sometimes they can get an outstanding catch but sometimes they cannot catch half or even one fourth of the average. However, satellite-based remote sensing techniques can identify potential fishing zones based on certain indicators such as microscopic photosynthetic algae, sub-surface temperature, salinity, wind, weather, ocean currents and bathymetry.

Fishes tend to move to favourable areas, suitable for specific fish species, in the ocean. Some of the relevant oceanographic conditions such as sea surface temperature, ocean colour and oceanic fronts, strongly influence natural fluctuations of fish stocks. Such trends can be observed and measured by remote sensors on satellites. The remotely sensed data can be provided in near real-time to modellers who produce fisheries forecasts, to help fishers save fuel and time during their search for fish. There are many satellites on the orbit to observe ocean conditions. It can be used for fishing at limited costs. Once they identify potential areas using remote sensing, SMS can be sent to fishing boat owners or agents of fishing boats. Bangabandhu-1 satellite can be an option for regular communications with marine fishermen, who are in the deep sea, for updating them about fishing hotspots and cyclone warning.

Kabir Uddin,

Gulshan, Dhaka