SAGAR VANI System Reaches 8 Lakh Fishermen; INCOIS Expands Ocean Advisory Network
The services are operational across all coastal regions, including 12 districts in Andhra Pradesh and six districts in Odisha, with dedicated outreach through Fish Landing Centres (FLCs).
Over 2.6 lakh users in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha receive real-time alerts via multi-channel platform
New Delhi: Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, is delivering ocean advisory services to nearly 8 lakh fishermen and coastal stakeholders across India through its SAGAR VANI system and related platforms.
The information was provided by Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences and Science & Technology, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The services are operational across all coastal regions, including 12 districts in Andhra Pradesh and six districts in Odisha, with dedicated outreach through Fish Landing Centres (FLCs). In Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district, five FLCs are facilitating access to ocean data, while Jagatsinghpur and Puri districts in Odisha are covered through 11 and 20 FLCs respectively.
INCOIS is directly reaching around 1,03,915 users in Andhra Pradesh and 1,58,711 users in Odisha through multiple communication channels including WhatsApp, SMS, email, Telegram, and the SAMUDRA mobile application. The outreach is further amplified through partnerships with organisations such as Reliance Foundation and MS Swaminathan Foundation, along with state fisheries departments and NGOs.
The SAGAR VANI ecosystem delivers critical services such as Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories and ocean state forecasts in local languages, enabling fishermen to improve catch efficiency and enhance safety at sea. Alerts related to ocean hazards—including tsunamis, high waves, and storm surges—are disseminated through platforms such as the SACHET system and satellite-based communication tools like GEMINI.
A key component of the system is the SAMUDRA (Smart Access to Marine Users for Ocean Data Resources and Advisories) mobile app, which provides real-time alerts, five-day forecasts, and actionable advisories for fishermen, mariners, and coastal communities.
To strengthen last-mile connectivity, INCOIS is conducting awareness programmes, training sessions, and mock drills across coastal regions. Under the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission-led Tsunami Ready initiative, five villages each in Jagatsinghpur and Puri districts have been recognised as tsunami-ready communities.
The initiative also includes beach cleanliness drives, community engagement programmes, and capacity-building workshops aimed at improving preparedness, operational safety, and risk mitigation for fishermen operating in offshore waters.
