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The FERI Trust's translational research project ‘Resinnov Blue’ with incubation support of ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) Kochi Headquarters, focuses on digital transformation of national fisheries supply chain coupled with incorporation of quality practices.
A formal MoU signed between ICAR-CIFT and FERI Trust enabled to access the incubation facilities towards attainment of the project goals.
A first of its kind B2B e-auction platform for the fisheries sector was developed and launched, integrating four auction formats, including reverse auction. In addition, an e-marketplace was created to onboard regional fish retailers with quality verified fish stocks.
The research solution for digital upgradation of existing fisheries supply chain rather than creation of parallel supply chain, has been widely reported by regional and national media.
The project progressed further to explore the low data satellite communication technologies to extend trade zones from near shore to deep sea to bridge the gaps in market linkages. Although the technical discussions with concerned Govt. entities and scientists did not evolve into a formal collaboration, the shared proof of concept documents was validated by each party through their own pathways and resources.
The concept integrates trade and catch communication components, by leveraging existing low data satellite communication technologies already deployed in fishing vessels for monitoring and disaster response. The trade and catch data are serialized into output messages within 100 characters, for transmission through satellite communication devices, thereby enabling real time market linkages from deep sea vessels to onshore receivers such as fisheries e-marketplaces.
The adoption prospects to multiple stakeholders are
- Fisheries research institutions: Upgrade existing methodology of catch location estimation based on landing center data to better catch location data reported by fishermen from deep sea
- Government agencies: Reduce enforcement friction in regulatory compliance through a trade income linked system for fishing communities, while supporting the modernisation of fishing harbours and landing centers
- Satellite communication providers: Market expansion and capture of fisheries userbase through conversion of current passive system to active real time two way trade communication system
- Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Providers: Value addition of VMS services through real time market linkages and trade communication
- Universities: Development of programs and research initiatives on application of satellite communication technology for resilience of small scale fisheries sector and habitats
- NGOs: Support socio-economic resilience of coastal communities and development of climate resilient fishing villages
For fishermen, real time low data trade communication provides specific benefits
- Affordable low data trade and compliance system without revealing fishing grounds to competitors
- Extended trade negotiation time than near shore based scenarios
- Improved price realisation with real time market linkages
- Better informed decisions on when and where to land
Overall, the novel system creates a data driven, income aligned real time market linked fisheries trade ecosystem. The project is open for collaboration.
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Resinnov Bluesat: Satellite Assisted Trade Integration for Blue Economy
As an extended project phase, the 'Resinnov Bluesat' project focuses on operationalizing low data satellite assisted trade and catch communication systems.
The following significant milestones have been successfully achieved
Proof of concept validation: Established the integration framework, including identification of Key Data Elements (KDEs) for trade and catch components, along with alphanumeric character allocation for low data communication
- Prototype development: Designed the user interface and serialization workflow to generate standardized low data trade outputs within 100 characters along with the market linkage functionality
- Minimum Viable Product (MVP): Developed an offline mobile application enabling fishermen to transmit trade and catch information (within 100 characters), integrated with onshore e-marketplace systems
- Field testing: Conducted near field testing of the solution in collaboration with private satellite communication providers
A scientific paper titled “Satellite IoT Integrated Offline Trade Communication System towards Sustainable Blue Economy and Resilience of Small Scale Fisheries” was presented at the 38th Kerala Science Congress, 2026, encapsulating the core research and development work of this project.
Collaboration Call for OPEX model of pilot deployment are open
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REACT: Research and Entrepreneurship Assisted Coastal Transformation
REACT is an integrated initiative focused on Blue Economy Value Chain Development through the application of social entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and resource valorisation. The project envisions a replicable nexus of people, technology, and business models, designed to strengthen economic opportunities within marine fishing villages.
Core Pathways
- Development of Digital Demand Clusters (DDC)
- Integration of formal credit systems with DDC
- Establishment of DDC linkages with fishing villages
- Operationalisation of revenue sharing based models for fishermen
FERI Trust is authorised as the Business Development Consultancy of Kerala Automobile Limited (KAL), a Govt. of Kerala undertaking. FERI Trust facilitates the conversion of the E-Autos of KAL as food cart for coastal entrepreneurs, operating on a revenue sharing basis. As part of the project, decentralized fisheries entrepreneurship models are being developed.
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- Onsite delignification of pollutant coir pith
- Recovery of lignin from effluent
- Treatment of process effluent and recirculation for subsequent delignification cycles
The entire system was implemented as a vehicle mounted unit, enabling onsite processing and creating a replicable model for wetlands with road access.
- Demonstration of replicable waste to resource conversion approach
- Valourisation of pollutant coir pith into two industrially valuable products; 1. delignified coir pith and 2. lignin
- Vehicle mounted onsite processing and treatment facility
- Zero effluent discharge system
The project is open for technology commercialisation by MSME and industry stakeholders
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- Robotic harvest of aquatic weed (water hyacinth)
- Deployment of support boat for operations in rough water conditions
- Onsite transfer and segregation of harvested weed and mixed wastes, to ensure environmental accountability
- Valourisation of the segregated weed into value added products like soil supplement, biochar and bricks
- Integration of the valourised outputs into circular economy framework
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