Fish Forecasting for Tuna
Sri Lanka
Utilising 3 types of data - satellite data (from NASA), oceanography data and fisheries log book data - a fishing ground advisory (forecast) is developed and provided to the fishermen all around Sri Lanka, targeting fishermen for Yellow Fin Tuna and Skip Jack Tuna (more recently). The data includes sea temperature, currents of the oceans, small organisms, and previous catch information and this is used to predict fishing grounds. The main objective of the technology is to minimise the fishermen's sea time (as they stay for 10 to 30 days) and increase efficiency. The remote sensing application is targeted towards boat owners, skipper, and fisherman that owns the boat. The information comes to the Harbour office from the Department of Fisheries, however this is not communicated to the fishermen directly from the harbour office. Fishermen mentioned that they receive tuna forecasting information daily, and the information is shared with the boats through radio.
Digital Solution (DS) Category
Digital Agriculture
Digital Solution Type (sub-category)
Farm advisory services, Digital aquaculture
Delivery type (format)
Mobile app
Social media platforms
DS supplier-user category
Business to business
Business to consumers
Type of entity (ICT developer-supplier)
Multi-partners
Name of supplier/developer
The National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA)
Primary Users
Fisherfolks , Agribusiness / private company
Digital Solution Development Stage
Number of users or subscribers
Previously, fishing ground advisory information was provided once a week, but now NARA tries to make it available 3 times a week. This information targets Yellow Fin Tuna fishermen mainly in Negombo, Dickovita, Mirissa, Devinuwara, and Dickwella, and more recently Skip Jack Tuna Fishermen. The information is disseminated through WhatsApp groups (2 groups, 400 persons), email and the NARA Facebook page. According to radio officer at Nilwella, Fishermen have no trust on Tuna Forecasting System from NARA. According to a Fisherman at Nilwella, this initiative is not effective due to some practical difficulties regarding locations, depth and other parameters.
Measurable positive impact(s) by Digital Solution (DS) on target users and/or audience
Digital Solution Geographic scope
Nilwella Fisheries Harbour
Name of Digital village(s), districts, communes where DS is used/deployed
On-line resource links (Web-page links, links to videos, links to reports, etc)
Link to Digital village
Link to Digital initiatives