With the introduction of a device called the fish-finder, Central Java fishermen are now able to more efficiently locate schools of fish before sailing out to sea.

“Thanks to technological developments, fishermen can locate the fish with the device. The fishermen just need to go and catch them,” Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo said in a briefing at the provincial maritime, fisheries and food security agency in Semarang on Wednesday.

Central Java is home to some 171,000 fishermen who live in southern and northern coastal areas, operating 4,952 fishing vessels.

The satellite-based instrument, which can be operated remotely, works by locating fish based on the movement of plankton.

Central Java Maritime, Fisheries and Food Security Agency head Fendiawan Tiskiantoro said several fishermen in Central Java had already got their hands on the device.

“We expect to give out 12 fish-finder GPS devices to fishermen,” Fendiawan said.

His office, he added, also aimed to update fishermen cards, which currently only show a fisherman’s identity. Cardholders would later have access to a fishing license, insurance and fuel subsidy.

Central Java produces 446,000 tons of fish annually and another 510,000 tons of other sea products.