The government is undertaking a technology-driven initiative to ensure the rapid identification and rescue of fishermen who encounter danger while fishing in the deep sea due to storms, accidents or mechanical failures.
A plan has been taken to establish a satellite-based surveillance system to monitor the locations and movements of fishing vessels in the Bay of Bengal round the clock.
The system will make it possible to identify the positions of vessels operating far beyond coastal areas. At the same time, it will create new opportunities to strengthen maritime security, ensure proper management of marine resources and harness the potential of the blue economy.
To this end, Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) is planning to launch satellites equipped with the Automatic Identification System (AIS).
The project is expected to cost approximately Tk 600 crore.
BSCL officials said Bangladesh has a maritime area of approximately 118,813 square kilometres, which contains abundant fisheries resources, marine biodiversity and economic potential. However, regular surveillance across this vast maritime area remains a major challenge.
Against this backdrop, the plan includes establishing four Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, two ground stations and local server infrastructure for data storage and processing. This will enable the country to store and manage information on maritime vessels using its own infrastructure while reducing dependence on foreign third parties.
Bangladesh’s first satellite, Bangabandhu Satellite-1, currently in orbit, was primarily designed to provide telecommunications and broadcasting services.
Under the proposed system, the target is to ensure a maximum revisit time of 30 minutes across the entire Bay of Bengal. This means that after a satellite observes a particular area, it will be possible to observe that area again within a maximum of 30 minutes.
As a result, information on the number of vessels operating in different areas, locations with high fishing activity and vessels moving beyond designated boundaries can also be analysed.
The system will also help control overfishing, conserve marine species and formulate sustainable fisheries management plans.
A feasibility study for the project is currently underway. Implementation will begin after finalising the technical design, financing arrangements, selection of satellite manufacturers and development of the required infrastructure. According to the plan, the satellite-based surveillance service is expected to become operational by 2028.
Enhanced capacity for fishermen’s safety and rescue operations:
Incidents of fishing vessels encountering storms, rough waves, mechanical failures or accidents while operating in the Bay of Bengal occur frequently. In particular, vessels travelling far from the coast often move beyond the reach of mobile networks. As a result, identifying the exact location of a vessel in distress becomes difficult.
In many cases, search operations to locate missing vessels take considerable time.
With this technology, the movements of AIS-equipped vessels will be monitored even when they are operating far from the coast. It will also facilitate rescue operations by relevant agencies, including the Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard.
Moreover, analysing vessel movement data and planning routes accordingly could help reduce unnecessary movement and save fuel.
According to BSCL’s preliminary estimates, a vessel could save up to 150 litres of diesel on a single voyage through proper route planning. On this basis, the potential annual fuel savings could reach 45 million litres.
Surveillance data to support fisheries resource development:
The introduction of the satellite-based AIS system will create opportunities to preserve long-term data on vessel movements and fishing activities at sea. By analysing information on how many vessels visit particular areas, when they engage in fishing and when they return to shore, it will be possible to develop a comprehensive database of marine fishing activities.
Such information will play an important role in the proper management of fisheries resources. In particular, monitoring trends in overfishing in specific areas, vessel presence during particular periods and changes in fishing activities across different regions will help authorities formulate more effective plans in the future.
However, AIS technology does not directly identify the location of fish in the sea. Its primary purpose is to monitor the identity and movements of vessels.
To determine where fish are likely to be abundant, it is necessary to analyse information on water temperature, ocean colour, chlorophyll concentration, plankton presence and ocean currents. Satellite remote sensing, along with technologies such as sonar and echo sounders, is used for these purposes.
In other words, AIS will indicate where a vessel is located, while oceanographic technologies will help identify areas with a higher probability of fish availability.
The integrated use of these technologies and data in the future could create new opportunities for modern, data-driven fisheries management in the Bay of Bengal.
In this regard, Managing Director of Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited Dr Muhammad Imadur Rahman said the Bay of Bengal is an important economic asset for Bangladesh. Establishing a technology-driven surveillance system is essential to protect this resource, ensure its proper management and strengthen maritime security.
He said that once the proposed satellite-based AIS system becomes operational, it will be possible to regularly monitor the locations and movements of fishing vessels operating in the deep sea.
Consequently, if any vessel encounters an accident or natural disaster, its position can be identified quickly, helping facilitate rescue operations, he said.
Rahman further said, “We want to establish a system through which important information about Bangladesh’s maritime resources and vessels can be stored and managed using the country’s own satellite and server infrastructure.”
He said the initiative is not merely a technological undertaking; rather, it is an important step towards developing Bangladesh’s maritime economy, ensuring fishermen’s safety and protecting maritime sovereignty.
He also noted that analysing vessel movement and fishing activity data would play an effective role in the sustainable management of marine resources, preventing illegal and unregulated fishing, and saving fuel.
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