Tech manpower needed to tap marine wealth

KOCHI: With its extended Exclusive Economic Zone of 2 million square kilometres, and a claim for additional 1 million pending, the nation needs a huge multidisciplinary, scientific and technical manpower to tap the rich ocean resources. More indigenous technology should be built in areas where we depend on other nations for machines and data analysis, said M Ravindran, Chairman, Naval Research Board, after inaugurating the three-day International Symposium on Ocean Electronics (SYMPOL-11) at Gokulam Convention Centre on Wednesday. The symposium is being organised by the Department of Electronics, Cusat.The role of electronics in survey systems, machines and manpower for tapping ocean resources in deep water and sea-beds, their safety, protection of coasts, warning against calamities such as tsunami were elaborated upon.Surveying the sea, collecting data, analysing and archiving is very difficult and requires efficient and committed researchers, he said. A wealth of food, non-renewable and renewable energy, hydro-carbons, gas hydrates and minerals can be harvested. Oceans which dominate the climate change are also the cheapest medium of bulk transport.Time, distances and fuel can be saved by locating the catch with the help of fishing sonar. Off-shore farming cages can help traditional fisherman, as fishes can be harvested from cages that can survive cyclones and do not ruin the coast, he said. Communication systems between man and machines can be improved with better application of underwater acoustics, expertise which is limited. Seismic survey ships should be built and capacity to process the same is needed. Scientists should analyse and interpret the data in seismic survey, he said.A large sum of money is being invested in research and development, students and researchers should utilise it for knowledge generation and help make harvesting of ocean resources easier, he said.Cusat VC, Ramachandran Thekkedath presided over the function. A Unnikrishnan, Associate Director, NPOL, released the proceedings of the SYMPOL. P R S Pillai welcomed the gathering. Albert J Williams of IEEE-OES and Prof K Vasudevan offered felicitations. Supriya M H, coordinator, SYMPOL, proposed the vote of thanks.