Maharashtra Implements Drone Surveillance for Enhanced Maritime Security
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Mumbai, January 9 (NationPress) The government of Maharashtra has initiated a drone surveillance system on Thursday to tackle the issues of illegal fishing and unauthorized access in the state's maritime zones.
The Minister for Fisheries and Port Development, Nitesh Rane, who officiated the launch of the drone surveillance initiative, stated that the project is designed to bolster the security across nine coastal areas spanning seven districts.
Rane explained that once the drone system is fully operational, it will monitor vessels involved in illegal fishing along the 720-kilometer coastline via drone cameras.
"The streaming provided by Drone Web Solutions will serve as crucial evidence for legal proceedings against these unauthorized vessels. This initiative is expected to significantly reduce illegal fishing activities and ensure that the marine zones are closely monitored. Thus, tackling unlawful fishing practices will become more feasible," he noted.
He further remarked that the influx of trawlers and large boats from outside sources leads to considerable losses for local fishermen, adversely affecting their livelihoods and contributing to law and order issues.
"To tackle these challenges, the Fisheries Department has embarked on this pioneering journey of integrating advanced technology through the drone monitoring system. The collaboration with the Marine Police Department will enhance maritime security, as drones can cover vast areas at high speeds, allowing for simultaneous monitoring of multiple locations.
"A comprehensive survey covering 120 nautical miles will be conducted daily, with a commitment to a six-hour surveillance period each day. The data collected by the drones will be shared with the relevant district offices. These drones have been developed under the Make in India initiative," the Minister added.
Rane also emphasized that the drone monitoring system will allow for the oversight of activities occurring at sea, ensuring that those engaging in illegal fishing are penalized with significant fines.
Evidence in the form of photographs will be captured by the drones, which will enable the department to act decisively against offenders.
He reiterated that both the Central and state governments' Fisheries Act will be strictly enforced.
Rane proudly stated that Maharashtra is the first coastal state to implement such a comprehensive surveillance system utilizing drones, and a control center has been established at the Fisheries Commissioner's Office.
The Fisheries Department reported that nine drones were launched from various beaches, including Shirgaon (Palghar), Uttan (Thane), Gorai (Mumbai Suburban), Sassoon Dock (Mumbai City), Revdanda, and Shrivardhan (Raigad), Mirkarwada and Sakhri Nate (Ratnagiri), and Devgad (Sindhudurg).
