Tamil Nadu's deep-sea fishing community has urged the Union government to permit data-enabled two-way satellite communication systems aboard fishing vessels, arguing the technology is critical to improving crew safety, boosting earnings, and advancing the Centre's push to expand deep-sea fishing operations. The demand was formalised through a representation submitted by the National Association of Fishermen (NAF) to Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.

What Fishermen Are Asking For

The NAF has called for regulatory approval of satellite-based communication services on fishing boats operating in Indian waters. According to the association, existing vessel-monitoring systems fall short — they offer basic location tracking, limited text messaging, and expensive voice calls that cost around ₹25 per minute. Fishermen say this is neither affordable nor adequate for vessels operating hundreds of nautical miles from the coastline, where conventional mobile networks are entirely unavailable.

Safety and Navigation Benefits

Industry veteran R. Manikantan said uninterrupted satellite connectivity would give crews access to real-time weather forecasts, oceanographic data, and fish-movement information while at sea. This, he argued, would allow fishermen to avoid dangerous weather conditions, navigate more accurately, and identify productive fishing zones with far greater efficiency. NAF Tamil Nadu State President Praveen Kumar noted that many fishermen operating in the Bay of Bengal and the Gulf of Mannar are reluctant to venture beyond 200 nautical miles precisely because they have no reliable means of seeking emergency assistance.

Commercial Case for Connectivity

Beyond safety, the technology carries significant income implications. At present, fishing crews return to shore without knowledge of prevailing market prices, leaving them with little bargaining power when selling their catch. Two-way satellite communication would allow crews to transmit photographs and details of their catch directly to buyers while still at sea, negotiate prices in advance, and land only after securing favourable deals — a structural shift in how fishermen engage with the market.

Policy Context and What Comes Next

The demand comes at a moment when the Department of Fisheries has already issued deep-sea access passes to encourage fishermen to venture farther offshore in search of high-value species, and the Centre is actively promoting deep-sea fishing as a lever for boosting marine exports and easing pressure on coastal fish stocks. Fishing organisations argue, however, that expanding offshore operations without dependable communication infrastructure exposes crews to unnecessary and avoidable risks. Praveen Kumar said approving affordable satellite communication would strengthen safety, build fishermen's confidence, and support the sustainable growth of India's deep-sea fishing sector. The NAF's representation to Scindia is now awaiting a response from the Ministry of Communications.