• Data-sharing agreement with INCOIS in the works
• INCOIS to provide raw data free of charge
• Current system accuracy at only 50–60%

Sri Lanka is set to improve the accuracy of its fishing ground forecasts through a data-sharing agreement with the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), as the current system achieves an accuracy of only 50–60%.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Secretary B.K. Kolitha Kamal Jinadasa said that while the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) currently operated a satellite-based potential fishing ground forecasting system, its accuracy stood at only 50–60%.

He explained that the issue with the NARA system was that it relied on satellite data obtained through a free service, which lacked precise accuracy as it did not provide high resolution, with variations in the forecasting extending up to 50 km.

“Globally, these systems work by obtaining sea temperature, chlorophyll, and wind patterns from satellites and running them through a model to obtain a forecast. This is what NARA does,” he stated.

Jinadasa pointed out that fish tended to remain within waters that fell within their comfort zone where they had food and the required temperature for their bodies, adding that this was used to forecast where fish might be present.

He noted that NARA had been allocated funds in the 2026 Budget to obtain high-resolution satellite data. However, he also said that the agency had now entered into an agreement with INCOIS to obtain the data it processed from its satellites in the region, which Sri Lanka would use to forecast fishing grounds.

“INCOIS has agreed to give its raw data to us free of charge,” the Secretary stated.

As a result, Jinadasa said that the funds allocated would instead be used to upgrade the NARA centre by obtaining new servers and other equipment to process the increased amount of data that it would receive, adding that tenders had been called to source the equipment.

The Secretary further noted that NARA provided its forecasting at present through the Dialog Sayuru application and the NARA Facebook page, where fishing ground forecasts were provided three to four times a week. He added that the agency was considering developing a specialised application for the purpose.