Usage Level of ICT and Its Impact on Income among Mechanised and Motorised Marine Fishermen in Kerala, India

A new technology and its application in any field brings more benefits to its users, if it is timely adopted and successfully used. New information and communication technologies (ICTs) like Global Positioning Systems (GPS), echo-sounders, mobile phones, wireless sets and beacons in the fisheries sector, from capturing to selling process, play an important role in enhancing both the productivity and standard of living of fishermen in Kerala. This study aimed to interpret the period and level of usage of ICT tools and compute the relationship between income and current usage of ICTs among the mechanised and motorised fishers of Kerala, India. The study showed that most of the mechanised and motorised boats use GPS, echo-sounders, mobile phones and wireless sets. GPS, mobile phones and echo sounders had been used for more than 15 years, but the usage of wireless sets and beacons were recent adopted ICT tools in the marine fisheries sector. The study shows a positive correlation between the use of ICTs and the income of fishing communities. The values of correlation coefficient ranges from 0.053 – 0.124, where GPS and mobile phones have more connection with the improvement of income, while ranking the ICT tools graph the preference of GPS and wireless sets among other gadgets.