Page 41 - ITU Kaleidoscope 2016

MOBILE SIGNAL EXTENSION IN DEEP SEA - TOWARDS A SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE
FISHERIES

Dineshkumar Singh , Sanjay Kimbahune , Veerendra Veer Singh
1
1
2

1 Innovation Lab – Mumbai, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.,Yantra Park, Thane (MH), India
2 Mumbai Research Center of CMFRI, Old CIFE Campus, Versova, Andheri, Mumbai (MH), India

ABSTRACT population is below poverty line, with annual earnings less
than Rs 25,000 (US$570) [3]. Majority of them are less
Despite having one million active fishermen, India lacks a educated and have education only between zero and upto
th
scalable boat-to-shore communication framework. Small 10 std. Hence, it is challenging to find an alternative
boat operators, which form 80% of entire fishing livelihood. The situation becomes more difficult during the
community, are more vulnerable to the wilder nature of the lean period or monsoon ban period. These factors lead to
ocean, due to dynamic sea current, wind speed, direction dependency on the local moneylenders to make ends meet
and wave heights, etc. This is also one of reason for and for emergency needs [4].
fishermen entering accidently in other country’s territory,
getting caught and sometimes costing their life. This poses Currently the family structure is slowly moving towards
a serious question to fishermen and their family, whether nuclear family, which involves the husband, wife and
they would return the next time they venture out in to the children. Male person is usually the primary bread-winner.
sea. Hence his safety is of utmost importance for well-being of
Deep sea mobile connectivity and Information, given in family. Women primarily work in the fish processing
advance about the sea conditions such as wind speed and industry like sorting, grading and local sell.
wave height can help fishermen to plan their trip effectively
and avoid the danger zone. This infrastructure could In 1999, the International Labor Organization estimated
provide path of building “knowledge society” to fishermen that every year, approximately 24 million non-fatal injuries
deprived of real time and usable information. For realizing occur to fishermen [5]. Owing to wind speed, direction and
this, integration of the existing communication technologies wave height, the sea conditions keep changing
like VHF transceivers, satellite communication and unexpectedly and become dangerous which increases the
extension of mobile communication network is needed. vulnerability for those at sea. They could get caught
A consortium of partners like Central Marine Fisheries unaware due to the sudden change in weather conditions
Research Institute, Tata Consultancy Service and Tata Tele which would make controlling the small boat difficult [6].
Services piloted a project for mobile signal extension into The situation is dangerous, especially when the boat is
the sea upto 30kms. This enabled an extended network laden with the catch leading to capsizing of the boat and
accessibility, which led to create an Early Warning System drowning the occupants.
over a digital highway of 30 by 120 KM, along the coast.
This paper captures the experiences and recommendations During 1891 to 2000, 308 cyclones have hit the coastal
derived from this pilot. population [7], endangering the lives of 370 million within
the 100kms off the coast. This necessitates the design of a
Keywords— fisheries, mobile, deep-sea, multi-technology communication framework to facilitate an
communication, EWS, security. Early Warning System (EWS) for the fisher folks and the
other coastal population.
1. INTRODUCTION

India, with a fish production of 9.58 million MT per year, is
the second largest producer of fish worldwide and
constitutes 5.68% of the world’s total fish production [1].
Marine fisheries accounts for approximately 39% of the
production. This sector contributes 0.83% to the national
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and ~ 4.6% to the
agricultural GDP [2], but is a crucial component of the rural
coastal economy in 3202 villages across 8,118 km
coastline. 0.9 Million fishermen are employed full time, Figure 1. OSF – Wind Speed and Direction. Red
followed by another 3.5 million gaining livelihood in the indicates High wind speed (danger zone) and its
processing and marketing sector. About 61% of the entire movement over 36 hours

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