Fishermen will now get to know updates before venturing into the sea. Thanks to an Ocean Weather Information Dissemination Centre has been inaugurated here.
A sub-centre of Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), the weather center is expected to be a boon for the sea-going fishermen to get information on the sea in advance.
Inaugurating the facility, Director of INCOIS Dr Satheesh C Shenoy said the centre has jurisdiction over Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
"The facility will be a great help for fishermen to get advance information on the various dynamics and features of the ocean," he said.
The centre, along with the Indian Ocean Forecasting System installed on the seashore at Pattinachery at Karaikal, would not only give updated information on the dynamics and behaviour of the sea but also equip fishermen with information
on fish zones and weather.
Advanced facilities like mobile sets would be used to pass information and fisher folk would be directed where to go for fishing and which was the ideal time for it.
"Such direction will be helpful for them to avoid calamities, take precautions and get good fish catch," he said.
The weather centre will use satellite data and sea mapping facility to gather information. "If fisher men get the information on fish zones in advance, they can save their time and avoid wastage of craft diesel," Shenoy said.
INCOIS is a joint venture with Pondicherry Multipurpose Social Service Society (PMSSS), a Non-government Organisation headquartered in the union territory.