The Forum of Environmental Journalists in India (FEJI), based in Bangalore, is pleased to announce its collaboration with Radio Monsoon, a Malayalam-language, online daily weather forecast run by trained local youth, for 42 villages along the 80-km long Thiruvananthapuram coastline.
As the Arabian Sea turns stormier from weather-related hazards in the monsoon, making small-boat fishing hazardous and threatening livelihoods, this online weather service encourages local fisherfolk to fish more safely.
Radio Monsoon’s daily weather bulletins are based on forecasts from India Meteorological Department and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, as well as fishers’ local knowledge and value addition by Cochin University of Science and Technology’s Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research.
Radio Monsoon also contributes to local efforts to improve marine forecasts by gathering and sharing fishers’ feedback on forecast quality and relevance.
These bulletins and magazine programmes promoting sea safety and local culture are disseminated online and through social media, loudspeakers, fishers’ informal radio communication and by word of mouth. FEJI’s collaboration is aimed at helping local communities tackle climate-related risks. It includes media training and technology inputs, and is being conducted by veteran journalist, cum geographer and researcher, Max Martin.