Initiatives in Fisheries Sector

Kisan Call Centre
Subject Matter Specialists (SMS) using telephone and computers, interact with farmers directly to understand the problems and answer the queries at the call centres. There are call centres for every state that are expected to handle traffic from any part of the country.

Aqua service centres
Many unemployed educated youths have started operating aqua service centres in the line of agri-clinics. These centres offer services like soil and water testing, feed analysis, seed quality testing (PCR test), disease diagnosis and market intelligence. They also sell inputs such as feed, fertilizers, pesticides, other therapeutics etc.
 Helpline
The helplines address queries related at specific hours. The helpline number is advertised through mass media viz., radio and press,call centre etc

Importance of ICT in Fisheries

The latest innovations of ICTs in fisheries sectors have brought about a tremendous change in the life styles of the fish farmers. Different initiatives in ICTs have been taken up which would also help in expanding and developing the fisheries technologies to the farmers.

  New information and communication technologies (ICTs) are being used across the fisheries sector, from resource assessment, capture or culture to processing and commercialisation. Some are specialist applications such as sonar for locating fish. Others are general purpose applications such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS) used for navigation and location finding, mobile phones for trading, information exchange and emergencies, radio programming with fishing communities and web-based information and networking resources. (FAO, 2007) . 

  Different communication technologies have been used by the fishermen, entrepreneurs, aquaculturist, extension workers, etc. Of all these, radio has been found to be most widely used by farmers. Information on various innovations of fisheries technologies are being disseminated among the farmers. 

 Introduction of mobile phones in In bangladesh has brought about a tremendous change in fisheries sector. One result was a dramatic improvement in the efficiency and profitability of the fishing industry. As mobile phone service spread, it allowed fishermen to land their catches where there were wholesalers ready to purchase them.