Harshini Brahmavar

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP) 

Udupi, Dec 6: The tracking system device that is proposed to be newly implemented for fishing boats from coastal Karnataka is currently under the stage of trial. The fisheries department, which feels that such a device is necessary as it offers several advantages, has been considering the practicability of having such a system and is in consultation with the district level security committees. 

The device enables the department to find out whether the boats concerned are functioning within GEO fencing limits or out of it. Currently there are about 1,400 fishing boats at Malpe port. The system will enable the officials to know about the presence of the boats at the port or not. Deputy director in fisheries department, Ganesh K, told Daijiworld that on a trial basis, tracking devices were fitted to two boats and the results are encouraging.

Till now, the task of providing accurate details about the movements of fishing boats and their presence at the port when sought by the deputy commissioner of the district or other departments used to be very difficult. In this backdrop, the concept of fixing tracking devices was thought of. 

The movement of the boats can be tracked through Pro Tracking web portal. After logging into the web access portal, the movement of boats comes into sight. Even details of misuse or violation of rules can be obtained. Owners of boats too can observe the movement of their boats. Adelphi Technologies has developed this device. 

It is said that more importantly, this device enables the concerned to find out whether a particular boat is wasting time or whether it is being misused. 

In the past, boats used to rely on walkie talkies and transponders for communication. But these devices facilitated only one-way communication and they are costly. The new system enables to send responses to mobile messages. 

In the past, the fishermen were finding it difficult to preserve originals of registration certificates licences, bio metric details, identity cards etc. But by using this device, soft copies of all the documents can be safely be maintained by using QR codes just ilke the radio frequency identity details which functions like dijilocker. The device also facilitates the concerned to identify boats from other ports that have crossed their limits. 

This device costs about Rs 10,000 to 15,000 and it can be further developed as per the demands of the situation in future. But they cannot be used for deep sea fishing boats, and for such boats, a different kind of device has been designed, Ganesh stated. 

A presentation of the device was made before the deputy commissioner on October 21, who expressed the opinion that the device is very useful. In the opinion of the concerned, this device can be used even for boats belonging to Mangaluru and Karwar ports. The device is equipped with battery back-up lasting 15 o 20 hours. 

The salient features of this device are GPS/GSM antenna, in built memory, crew panic button, data storage in server, multiple GEO fencing and SM alerts, and remote panel visual display alerts. 

The department has already written to the government about this device, and the fisheries department is yet to convene a meeting to discuss the issue. Deputy director of fisheries, Ganesh K, says that they can take further decisions if this experimental device gets green signal soon. He also points out that accurate details would be available if any tragedy takes place.