Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services Director Balakrishnan Nair T M has averred the need to empower fisherfolks with latest technologies which would help them to get accurate information instead of wandering in the sea for a better catch. Dr Nair’s comments came during the virtual summit on ‘Criticality of Transforming Fisheries Industry: Ushering Digitization to Support PMMSY,’ organised by India’s premier news agency, United News of India, here on Tuesday. “The marine community is facing a lot of problems right from the safety and security to the availability of their catch. Instead of wandering in the sea for a better catch, they need to get accurate information,” he stressed. The GPS-aided GEO augmented navigation (GAGAN), is an implementation of a regional satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) and the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System NavIC, is an autonomous regional satellite navigation system that provides accurate real-time positioning and timing services, added the INCOIS Director. Talking about the loss of lives in Okhi cyclone, he pointed out the lack of information during the disaster. Dr Nair said the fishermen need to get the warnings more accurately, adding that while the rough weather is problematic for regular folks, advanced boats can venture in the sea, analysing the condition of the sea. “If we empower fishermen with the latest gadgets, they can venture in sea like we use Google Map on roads,” he added. The NavIC system will be available to any smartphone which a compatible NavIC receiver hardware within a range of 1,500 kms around the country, called the Primary Service Area and it has an accuracy better than 20 meters, said Dr Nair. The Small Advisory and Forecast Services System (SVAS), Swell Surge Forecast System (SSFS) and Algal Bloom Information Service (ABIS) are the latest additions of the technology, he added.