Harnessing Ocean Data for Smarter Fishing
Thummalapelli Jeevan Kumar
Former MRC Intern, IIT Kharagpur
Key Highlights
- Fishermen using PFZ technology reduce search time by 70% and save massive amounts of fuel—900,000 liters saved in Maharashtra’s Raigad district alone, cutting over 2,400 tons of carbon emissions.
- PFZ technology evolved from basic 1970s temperature mapping to today’s AI-powered systems achieving 95% accuracy, even working through cloud cover that blocks traditional satellite views.
- With 28 million Indians depending on fishing and fish stocks moving offshore due to climate change, PFZ technology balances economic needs with marine conservation.
- The user-friendly web application converts complex ocean data into simple interactive maps that anyone—from fishermen to government officials—can easily understand and use.
The Challenge of Finding Fish
Imagine waking up at 4 AM, loading your boat with nets and fuel, and heading out to sea with nothing but hope and experience guiding you. This is the reality for millions of fishermen, especially in India, where over 28 million people depend on fishing to feed their families.
But here’s the thing—the ocean doesn’t come with a map showing where the fish are hiding. Fishermen often spend entire days searching, burning through expensive fuel, only to return with empty nets. It’s heartbreaking and financially devastating. And as fish populations decline and move to new areas, this guessing game becomes even harder.
What if there was a better way? What if fishermen could know exactly where to go before they even left the dock?
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Thummalapelli Jeevan Kumar
Former MRC Intern, IIT Kharagpur
Thummalapelli Jeevan Kumar is a final-year undergraduate student in Chemical Engineering at IIT Kharagpur, who completed his Research Internship at the Maritime Research Center, Pune, in August 2025.