The government launched a device that will help provide information related to disaster warnings when fishermen move away from the coast beyond 10 to 12 kilometres.
Gagan Enabled Mariner’s Instrument for Navigation and Information (GEMINI) device will disseminate seamless and effective emergency information and communication on disaster warnings, Potential Fishing Zones, PFZ, and the Ocean States Forecasts to fishermen.
After unveiling the device in New Delhi, Science and Technology Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said satellite-based communication is suitable to the dissemination of such emergency information. He said affordable satellite-based communication system should be made part of the dissemination chain to deal with cyclones, high waves and tsunamis.
On the occasion, the Minister also inaugurated PFZ forecasts which will provide advisories to fishermen three days in advance. He stated that PFZ advisories have become part of the value chain of the fishing community. Over six lakh fishermen are regularly accessing advisories directly through their mobiles to avoid wasting time for searching shoals of fish.
