India to launch e-observer system for remote monitoring of fishing: Govt

Union Fisheries Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi on Monday said the central government will soon come up with an onboard electronic observer system for remote monitoring and recording of marine fish catch.

This is aimed at providing accurate scientific data for stock assessment and management by monitoring fishing operations across various vessel types, he said.

Likhi highlighted India's efforts to strengthen its fisheries data management system while inaugurating a five-day global workshop on species identification organized by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and Fishery Survey of India (FSI) here.

According to him, electronic monitoring and efficient data collection on tuna and tuna-like fish catches and fishing activities are critical to improve the management of these fisheries in accordance with the IOTC guidelines, which mandates observer coverage and electronic monitoring.

The e-observer is being developed by the FSI, under the Fisheries Ministry.

Apart from a conservation tool, science-backed credible data is India's strongest defense against non-tariff barriers and allegations.

It is the passport that secures our access to international markets and protect our fishers and exporters from trade challenges by ensuring them a level playing field in export markets, Likhi added.

Since tunas, tuna-like species and pelagic sharks are highly migratory resources, India is committed to joining hands for a regional and international cooperation in data collection and management, Likhi said.

The country would take steps for long-term sustainability of its fisheries while protecting the livelihoods of millions dependent on the sector, he added.

Flagging concerns on the existing global quota allocation system for commercial tuna fishing, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) Director Dr Grinson George stressed the need for revising the system to ensure a higher, unbiased quota for developing nations like India.

He also emphasised the need for a well-developed cold chain infrastructure to boost tuna export, saying this would enable the preservation of tuna quality, reduce spoilage, and increase the competitiveness of Indian tuna in the global market.

Fisheries experts and officials from 12 nations, including Japan, France, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and South Africa and 18 officials from various coastal states of India are attending the workshop, a statement said.

Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE) Head Dr R S Maheskumar, FSI Director General Dr Sreenath K R and Zonal Director Dr Sijo Varghese spoke on the occasion, the statement added.