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ICAR-CIFRI Showcases Drone Technology for Smart Fisheries Management at Guwahati Workshop.

30 ^th July, 2026
Guwahati
Reinforcing its commitment to integrating emerging technologies into inland fisheries research and management, the ICAR–Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), Regional Centre, Guwahati, in collaboration with Drones Tech Lab, Guwahati, organized a one-day workshop on “Application of Drones in Fishery Resources Management” on 30 July 2026. The workshop was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore, and Dr. Sullip Kumar Majhi, Head, ICAR-CIFRI Regional Centre, Guwahati, with the objective of familiarizing fisheries professionals, researchers and students with the growing applications of drone technology for sustainable management of inland fisheries resources. A total of 34 participants, including scientists, technical personnel, fisheries professionals and students from the College of Fisheries, Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Raha, Nagaon, attended the programme. Delivering a message on the occasion, Dr. Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, stated, “The future of inland fisheries management lies in the intelligent integration of advanced technologies with scientific knowledge. Drone-based monitoring, coupled with artificial intelligence, IoT and geospatial tools, offers immense potential for real-time assessment of aquatic ecosystems, precision resource management and evidence-based decision-making. Building the capacity of fisheries professionals in these emerging technologies is essential for ensuring sustainable and climate-resilient fisheries development.”

The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. P. L. N. Raju, Director, Assam State Space Application Centre (ASSAC), Guwahati, as the Chief Guest. Welcoming the participants, Dr. Sullip Kumar Majhi highlighted the increasing importance of drone technology in fisheries research, particularly for rapid resource assessment, habitat mapping and scientific management of inland open-water ecosystems. Addressing the gathering, Dr. A. K. Das, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIFRI, emphasized the need to adopt advanced technologies such as drones, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) to develop smart, data-driven fisheries management systems capable of improving resource monitoring, analysis and decision-making.

In his inaugural address, Dr. P. L. N. Raju explained the complementary roles of drones, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and satellite-based remote sensing in fisheries and natural resource management. He elaborated on their applications for effective environmental monitoring and shared insights into Skyroute Aerospace initiatives. He also informed participants about the Government of Assam's proposal to launch a state satellite to strengthen geospatial capabilities.

The technical session featured expert lectures on inland fisheries resources and emerging technologies. Dr. A. K. Yadav, Senior Scientist, ICAR-CIFRI, delivered a presentation on the inland open-water resources of the North Eastern Hills region, highlighting their diversity, present status and management challenges. Dr. Das discussed scientific strategies for enhancing fish production in India's inland open waters and showcased drone- and IoT-based technologies being developed and utilized by ICAR-CIFRI for water quality monitoring, aquatic habitat assessment, fish stock monitoring and precision fisheries management. Adding a practical dimension to the programme, Mr. Sauvik Bhunia of Drones Tech Lab demonstrated drone platforms and their applications in aerial mapping, GIS integration, aquatic habitat assessment, water quality monitoring and fisheries resource surveillance. The technical sessions concluded with an interactive discussion, enabling participants to exchange ideas with experts on the practical applications of drone technology for strengthening fisheries research, monitoring and sustainable management of inland aquatic resources.