Sri LankaTotal population
Literacy rate
Smart phone use frequency
Majority of Residents
3. Majority of residents
Smart phone primary users
Fishermen and youth
Mobile broadband coverage
Variable strength/Average
3. Variable strength/average
Mobile internet use frequency
Majority
3. Majority
Mobile internet primary users
Fishermen and youth
Main purpose(s) of internet use by village residents (at least once a month)
Village residents own and use mobile phones, internet/email and social media. Mobile phones are also used for information on market prices and weather, online payments to business and service providers and online credit access.
Main social medial tools (or platforms) used by village residents
Major social media platforms
Social media platforms use for marketing, commercial, data exchange or other services or types of activities (what, by whom and frequency)
Main livelihood occupations (crop types, fish, livestock, agrifood, etc.) practiced by village residents
Main farming activities
Fishermen
Main agri food activities
Other livelihood activities (outside farming)
Digital solutions available (or used) in Village (or by local residents)
Tuna Fish Forecasting
Featured Digital Solution
Name
Tuna Fish Forecasting
Name of Lead Developer/supplier (and partners)
Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR)
Lead developer category
Government agency
Government agency
Delivery type
Social media platform
Primary users
Fisherfolks
Number of users/subscribers (at village/local area level)
Development stage category and description
Post-test/Pre-commercial
Post-test/pre-commercial
Digital category
E-Government Services
Indicate if the highlighted "top digital solution" is linked to (or part of) government, private, or multi-partner initiative, project or programme
Government service by the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR)
Main issues, needs, or priorities faced (or expressed) by villagers in accessing, and/or using digital solutions, services, or innovations (examples: reliability/strength/slow internet connection; access through local language; lack of adatpation to needs; urgently needed services not available, accessible, affordable, etc....)
Data and advisory services , digital technologies and social services are the most required services in the village
Other relevant information, data, statistics, links, application history etc.
The tool utilizes satellite data from NASA, oceanography data and fisheries logbook data through which a fishing ground advisory forecast is developed and provided to fishermen for Yellow Fin Tuna and Skip Jack Tuna. This information is made available 3 times a week and disseminated through WhatsApp groups, email and mainstram social media platform pages. The data includes sea temperature, currents of the oceans, small organisms and previous catch information which is then used to make a prediction on fishing grounds. The main benefit that the technology provides is that it minimizes the fishermen’s time at sea (as they usually stay for 10 to 30 days) and increases their efficiency as it identifies fishing grounds for them which they have to spend less time searching for. One of the main obstacles affecting the tool’s uptake among fishermen is the lack of trust in data from government agencies.