State equips 65% of fishing boats with safety transponders

NT Reporter

Panaji

To enhance the safety and security of fishermen at sea, the Fisheries Department has installed transponders on over 65 per cent of mechanised and motorised fishing boats in the state.

“Installation of transponders on fishing vessels to enhance the safety and security of fishermen at sea has been initiated by the government. So far (upto December 2025), 541 motorised vessels and 678 mechanised vessels have been equipped with these devices, enabling real-time monitoring and safer fishing operations,” the Fisheries Department said, adding that the transponders are provided free of cost, underscoring the State’s commitment to the welfare of the fishing community.

The Centre has approved the installation of transponders under monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) of the Pradhan Mantri MatsyaSampada Yojana (PMMSY).

Under this component, 1 lakh transponders have been proposed to be installed for fishing vessels across the country. The cost of each transponder is approximately Rs 35,000, which will be shared between the Centre and the State in a 60:40 ratio. The Centre has granted approval to the Goa Government to install transponders on 859 mechanised fishing boats and 1,000 motorised fishing boats.

With the installation of the transponders, Goan fishermen venturing into deep sea would have a sense of safety and security when in distress, as the devices would provide a system for better communication.

The system would provide a two-way communication system via short text messages from the boats to the control room or the monitoring station and vice versa during emergencies like cyclones, enabling timely help, support and rescue.

The system would help in monitoring the location of fishing vessels in real time. Additionally, it would provide weather alerts to fishermen. Through the system, alerts would also be sent if they accidentally cross the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). The system would also help fishermen in fish catch, as it would provide Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories.