The Union Department of Fisheries on Thursday approved a national roll-out plan to equip one lakh marine fishing vessels across India with transponders under the Vessel Communication and Support System (VCSS), at a total outlay of ₹364 crore. The system, indigenously developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will enable real-time monitoring, control, and surveillance of fishing boats operating in Indian waters.

What the VCSS Project Covers

The roll-out has been approved under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and involves three core components: installation of transponders on eligible fishing vessels, establishment of earth stations and associated communication infrastructure, and development of the 'Nabhmitra' application in regional languages.

Transponders will be provided free of cost to eligible fishermen. The project will be implemented on a 60:40 cost-sharing basis between the Centre and states, while Union Territories will receive 100 per cent central assistance.

Key Features of the Nabhmitra Application

ISRO's Nabhmitra app is central to the initiative, offering a suite of safety and operational tools for the marine fishing community. Its capabilities include periodic position reporting, two-way messaging, emergency SOS messaging, automatic boundary-crossing alerts based on geo-fencing, weather and cyclone warnings, Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories, navigational assistance, and an e-Token and Trip Declaration system.

The geo-fencing feature is particularly significant — it will alert fishermen before their vessels inadvertently cross into the territorial waters of neighbouring countries, a recurring source of diplomatic friction involving Indian fishing communities.

Infrastructure at Fish Landing Centres

The project also plans communication infrastructure at 423 Fish Landing Centres (FLCs) out of a total of 1,547 notified centres across the country. Selection of FLCs is based on the volume of fishing activity, the number of fishers dependent on each centre, proximity to fish markets and processing units, and techno-financial viability.

According to government records, Andhra Pradesh has the highest number of FLCs at 350, followed by Tamil Nadu with 301 and Kerala with 204.

Why This Matters for Fishermen's Safety

India's marine fishing sector employs millions of coastal workers who regularly face risks from extreme weather events, cyclones, and maritime boundary violations. The VCSS system directly addresses these vulnerabilities by allowing rescue agencies to pinpoint vessel locations during emergencies — a capability that has historically been limited for small-scale fishing boats.

This is also a notable milestone for ISRO's civilian applications portfolio, demonstrating the space agency's expanding role beyond satellite launches into grassroots livelihood support. With guidelines now approved, implementation timelines and state-level roll-out schedules are expected to be communicated to coastal states and Union Territories in the coming weeks.