An Overview Of Our Solution
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: Asia
Address
Association of Deep Sea Going Artisanal Fishermen
Kanniyakumari 629176
India
Population impacted
Size
2.02 million squire km (The total Indian EEZ)
Major Occupations
Local resources the community depends on, and for what purpose
Local threats to resources
Climate Hazards
Level of sensitivity
Level of adaptive capacity
The fishermen community in this locality is organized under the Association of Deep Sea Going Artisanal Fishermen (ADSGAF). The Association was established in 1992 and has 340 full-time members who are engaged in long lining and gill-netting using small mechanized boats (10 ? 22 meter Length Overall) along the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). There are around 2000 fish workers and their dependents associated with the organization. There are 588 deep sea going fishing vessels affiliated to this Association that fish all over the Indian EEZ, which covers an area of 2.02 million sq. km. The Association during its regular executive and general body meetings discuss the problems faced by the members and try to address them. During 2009, members raised the issue of increasing searching time coupled with rising fuel cost leading to decline in their income from the fisheries. The members also expressed concern about increasing cost of running the engine during idle time for lighting and signalling requirements. It was found that fuel cost is accounting for about 70 percent of the total operational cost and to compensate for the increasing cost, fishermen have extended the duration of their voyage from about 10 days a decade earlier to about 45 days at present. Despite this increase in fishing duration, they are still finding it difficult to make their operations viable. Faced with this challenge and also considering the carbon footprints generated by this fishery, the Association decided to experiment with the use of solar energy in fishing vessels in 2010. The Association has since then carried out several techno-economic assessments and pilot trials to measure the efficacy and viability of their venture in different categories of fishing boats. It is found that while at sea the engine is run for several hours at partial load to provide power for auxiliary activities such as lighting, communication, navigation, signalling and on-board entertainment. Therefore, if these services can be run by using alternative power sources there could be a significant saving of fuel and this will improve the viability of the operation as well as reduce the carbon footprints. From the pilot- scale trials, it is seen that switching off the engine for 3 hours can save 30 litres of fuel a day (0.38 million litre per year). The potential reduction of carbon dioxide emissions per year if the entire fleet switches off the engine for three hours a day is estimated to be 10,440,000 kg. Therefore, solar power seems to be a viable alternative to reduce fuel cost in fishing operations and the Association has fitted two multi-day boats with solar plants to generate more data on their efficacy. Besides the multi-day, the Association is also promoting the use of solar lanterns in traditional canoes who undertake day-night fishing and for use by fisherwomen in marketing fish during evening hours. In this venture, the Association has been supported by the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation, which is a regional fisheries body with Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka as its members.
Ecological Costs
Ecological Benefit
Economic Indicators used to measure benefit
Increased biodiversity and abundance of fish - Reduced destructive fishing practices or over-fishing. Reduction in carbon emission potentially to the tune of 10 million kg per year. Reaching break-even point earlier, thus reducing the need for longer fishing hours or effort.
Economic Cost
Number of inquiries on use of solar energy and request for demonstration. Number of community members attending awareness meetings.
Economic Benefit
Cost of solar solution INR 0.38 million (US $ 6 440). Apart from this, the community has conducted several stakeholder meetings and also two National-level consultations to discuss the use of solar energy in fisheries sector. The community is also engaged in networking with different service providers, R&D Institutions and other relevant agencies. So far the cumulative cost for these activities is estimated to be around INR 0.6 million (US $ 10 000).
Ecological Indicators used to measure benefit
It is expected that there will be a saving of 30 litres per day amounting to INR 1650 (30*55) per day (US $ 28). For about 250 fishing days this will create a savings of INR 32 500 (US $ 551) during the first year after adjusting the cost of solar solution (INR 0.38 million; US $ 6 440). From the following year, it will create a savings of INR 4 12 500 (US $ 6 991) till there is a need for replacement of the battery or other maintenance cost. Change in battery and maintenance will add a marginal cost and there will be a net positive return from the investment.
What were/are the challenges your community faced in implementing this solution?
Reduced fuel bill for fishing operations during a single trip.
Describe the community-based process used to develop the solution including tools and processes used
The community has made changes in the fishing gear used and also in area of fishing to cope with the changing scenario. However, since these changes are costly, relatively poor fishermen are finding it difficult to implement them. To overcome some of the problems, the community is also extending the fishing durations. However, such actions may have negative impact on the sustainability of the operation.
Climate hazard of concern
How does your solution reduce the exposure of and buffer/protect the ecosystem affected?
Other
How has your solution increased the capacity of the ecosystem to adapt to potential climate changes?
The solution has the potential to reduce carbon emission from fisheries as well as reducing the time spent in sea (effort) by improving the profitability of fishing operations.
How does your solution reduce the exposure of and buffer/protect the communities affected?
Increasing profitability from fisheries will contribute to improved food security, better education, health and improved housing conditions (including sanitation) for the community. It will also lead to reduction in the use of fossil fuel.
How does your solution reduce the sensitivity of the communities affected?
The solution will not directly reduce the exposure of the community. However, as mentioned earlier it will improve their adaptive capacity. The level of exposure is expected to decline in the long run due to community empowerment.
How has your solution increased the capacity of local communities to adapt to potential climate changes?
Improved returns from fisheries are expected to be invested in the young fishermen population for their education and health purposes. In the longer run this will create alternative avenues of employment. In the short run, improved returns will induce diversification of portfolio reducing their dependence on fisheries.
Can this solution be replicated elsewhere?
Considerable investment is needed for installing the solar panels and associate equipment. While there are Government programmes to assist use of solar energy for general applications, there is no particular scheme to support its application in fishing boats.Presently, pilot-scale implementation on the use of solar energy in fishing boats is in progress. The Association is also discussing the outcomes of the pilots with the concerned Ministries (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the Ministry of Agriculture) in the Government of India to assist in carrying out more pilots in multi-locations to create awareness amongst the end users and also bring in more Solar Companies to team with the fishermen in installing solar plants on-board fishing vessels. While government assistance is being sought to increase the pilot-scale trials, even if this assistance is not forthcoming, the reduction in the cost of solar panels and other equipment is creating a favourable situation to up-scale the demonstration to a larger geographical area. Further, standardization of design, use of solar panels in a maritime environment where corrosion of equipment could be an issue are the other areas of concern where the partnering R&D Institutions are assisting the Association in assessing and overcoming these problems.