Isro’s got a new job: Fishing

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) may be synonymous with moon expeditions but now it is all set to help fishermen in the state land a bigger catch. Satellite guided technology, provided by Isro, will help fishermen to zero in on shoals of fish in Arabian Sea.

For a start,  the Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation Ltd (KFDC) and Isro are entering a tie-up for the satellite mapping of the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). About 200 fishing vessels in coastal areas will now make use of gadgets such as fishfinder, Global Positioning System (GPS) and echo-sounders on their expedition. Karnataka will be the second state in the country after Gujarat to go high-tech fishing.

Ramachandra Baikampady, chairman, KFDC, said the government has sanctioned Rs2 crore as the first installment for the project. Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa is likely to launch the project in April.

The Isro technology will help fishermen land the catch quickly and is expected to boost the volume of the catch.  KFDC director Veerappa Gowda said the technology will enable fishermen to wrap up the daily fishing in less than five hours since they will be going to the target area directly from the coast after getting the satellite confirmation.