All fishing crafts, including deep-sea fishing vessels, in Odisha, along with other coastal States will be fitted with tracking devices (transponders) being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in the coming days.

At least 1,000 transponders have already been fitted on Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Gujarat on a pilot basis. And, after the evaluation of performance of the system, it will be replicated in Odisha and other coastal States, an official said.

Sources said that the issue cropped up in recently held meeting of the National Committee on Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security headed by Union Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha.

Keeping coastal security in view, all the fishing vessels will be fitted with transponders and any foreign craft without the transponder system will be considered an intruder.

Secondly, Odisha being a cyclone prone area, the authorities also will be able to communicate vital information like cyclone warning to fishing craft, an official said.

Over 22,000 fishing vessel and about 1,754 trawlers are registered with the Directorate of Fisheries, which are operating in Odisha with thousands of fishermen venturing into sea.

The move was part of steps to strengthen coastal security undertaken by the Ministry of Home Affairs after the Mumbai terror attacks.

The technology for monitoring and surveillance was meant for all fishing vessels across the country.

During cyclones it has been proved that tracking fishing vessels, especially those sailing deep into the sea, remained a real challenge for the authorities. lack of communication with the craft had confused the fishing community and officials.

In the initial phase, fishermen may feel that their privacy is at stake and that they are being monitored, but officials are optimistic of clearing the air since cyclones like Phailin, Hud Hud and Ockhi proved the need for such a tracking system to save fishermen in distress.

The launch of the indigenous navigation system, the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, a constellation of seven satellites operating under the name NavIC, a missing craft caught in rough ocean weather could be tracked if it is fitted with the receiver, say officials.

Authorities will be able to track vessels but helping them may take time as it depends on how well and fast the services on ground responds, officials say.

Recently, the MHA proposed that images from ISRO's satellites will be used to monitor suspicious vessels and boats venturing into the sea as part of the efforts to strengthen the coastal security.

And with the new navigation system, the ISRO had improved the services and added many new features including position, potential fishing zone and cyclone alerts. Fishermen will need to download a mobile app specifically developed for the purpose.

For long, the ISRO has been providing data to Government controlled organisations; those are disseminated across the coastal area. And with latest improved features, fishermen will also get alerts if they cross the safe border, and will be helped out during the time of distress.