In recognition of India’s historic Chandrayaan-3 mission, the Government of India has designated August 23rd as “National Space Day.” This day marks the successful landing of the Vikram Lander and the deployment of the Pragyaan rover near the lunar South Pole, making India the fourth country to achieve a moon landing and the first to do so in this challenging region. Celebrations across the nation in July and August 2024 aim to inspire the younger generation in the field of space science and technology.
The Department of Fisheries is set to host a significant event at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, on this occasion. The event, scheduled for tomorrow at 10 AM, will be graced by Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, along with Ministers of State Prof. S. P Singh Baghel and Shri George Kurian, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Dr. Abhilaskh Likhi, and other dignitaries.
In addition to the celebration, the Department of Fisheries is organizing a series of seminars and demonstrations on the “Application of Space Technologies in the Fisheries Sector” across 18 locations in coastal states and union territories. These events, led by Dr. Abhilaskh Likhi, will cover topics such as space technology applications, communication, navigation systems for marine domains, and space-based observations, emphasizing their impact on improving the fisheries sector.
The hybrid events will see participation from key stakeholders, including the Department of Space, INCOIS, New Space India Ltd., fishermen, Sagar Mitras, FFPOs, Fisheries Cooperatives, ICAR Fisheries Research Institutes, state and union territory fisheries departments, and students from fisheries universities and colleges.
India’s fisheries sector, vital to the nation’s economy, benefits significantly from space technologies. With an extensive coastline of 8,118 km, a vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covering 2.02 million square kilometers, and abundant inland water resources, the integration of satellite remote sensing, Earth observations, satellite-based navigation, and data analytics has revolutionized the sector. These technologies enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability, aiding in the management of marine resources and improving the livelihoods of fishermen.
One notable advancement is the Potential Fishing Zones (PFZ) advisories, which have significantly increased India’s estimated marine fisheries potential from 3.49 lakh tonnes in 2014 to 5.31 lakh tonnes in 2023. By leveraging ocean color data from satellites, these advisories enable fishers to locate and harvest better catches with greater efficiency, reducing time and effort at sea.
The Department of Fisheries, under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), is committed to supporting these technological advancements. Initiatives such as the National Rollout Plan for Vessel Communication and Support System in marine fishing vessels aim to enhance monitoring, control, and surveillance by installing 1,00,000 transponders on vessels across nine coastal states and four union territories, with an outlay of Rs. 364 crores. This project underscores the government’s dedication to integrating space technologies with fisheries management, ensuring the sector’s sustainable growth and development.
