Utilization of IRS P4 ocean colour data for potential fishing zone: A cost benefit analysis

IRS P4 OCM (Ocean Colour Monitor) derived chlorophyll concentration is being used along with NOAA AVHRR (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) derived SST (Sea Surface Temperature) for Potential Fishing Zones (PFZ) forecast in the country. There is a need to compute cost-benefit ratio to understand its impact on the fishing industry and to evaluate utilisation of OCM data for benefit of fishermen community. In order to compute cost benefit ratio, cost towards generation of forecast, expenditure towards fishing and profits from increased catch were considered. Actual fishing cost per unit was considered based on the fisheries survey made by different agencies and probable increase in catch was assumed based on PFZ validation experiment. An average receipt was found increased from Rs. 38428/ ($814/) to Rs. 65315/ ($1390/) for trawler and Rs. 1443/ ($31/) to Rs.2742/ ($58) for gill-netter to PFZs users. The benefit cost ratio increased from 1.27 to 2.12 for trawling and 1.3 to 2.14 for gillnetting compared to non-PFZ users to PFZs users, respectively.