Satellite technology in fishing

Bangladesh being a first-line littoral country in the Indian Ocean has a good source of marine resources in the Bay of Bengal. Covering the marine resources, a major direct benefit of goods and services that are generated by marine and coastal ecosystems in the region comes in the form of fisheries and aquatic resources, which create significant livelihood opportunities in fishing, farming and the post-harvest economic sector. In Bangladesh, more than 80 per cent of the animal protein in diet comes from fish.

But most of the developing countries like Bangladesh still use traditional methods for fishing. Most of the fishermen operate in fishing grounds by employing their experience; this cannot be considered as an accurate method. On some days they are able to get a very good catch, but on the other days their catch may be either half or one-fourth of that quantity. Computer technology has touched every aspect of human activities in this modern world. In this context, satellite-based remote sensing techniques could identify potential fishing zones. Certain indicators such as microscopic photosynthetic algae, sub-surface temperature, salinity, wind, weather, ocean currents and bathymetry are utilised in the process.

Fishes tend to converge on ocean areas that exhibit conditions favoured by specific fish species. Some of the relevant oceanographic conditions, such as sea surface temperature, ocean colour and oceanic fronts, which strongly influence natural fluctuations in fish stocks, can be observed and measured by remote sensors on satellites.

The remotely sensed data can be provided in near-real time to help fishermen save fuel and ship-time during their search for fish; and modellers who make fisheries forecasts. There are many satellites in the orbit to observe the ocean conditions.  They can be used for fishing within limited costs. Once they identify the potential areas using remote sensing, SMS can be sent to the fishing boat owners or agents of fishing boats.

The writer is GIS and remote sensing analyst, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu, Nepal. kabir.uddin.bd@gmail.com