This report presents the Hermes Communication and Tracking Initiative, which equipped ten artisanal wooden fishing vessels operating in remote offshore areas of Bangladesh with Hermes devices. The initiative aimed to improve safety at sea, strengthen communication in areas lacking infrastructure, and create an accountability framework to monitor catch and bycatch—particularly endangered sharks and rays—through geo-spatial tracking.
The deployment significantly enhanced real-time communication, enabling improved coordination with monitoring staff and contributing to the first successful rescue mission of its kind in Bangladesh under this type of initiative. The technology increased fishers’ access to safety alerts, weather updates, and market information, improving operational efficiency, decision-making, and economic planning.
The project also strengthened conservation outcomes by incentivizing the live release of endangered bycatch species. Through trust-building, co-designed solutions, training, and real-time reporting, fishers demonstrated increased compliance with sustainable fishing practices and improved release behavior. This contributes to reducing fishing-related mortality of vulnerable sharks and rays, supporting ecosystem balance and long-term fisheries sustainability.
A key governance component was transparent data sharing and community co-ownership of data. Fishers were recognized as active stakeholders with access to operational and conservation-related information, enhancing empowerment, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making. The initiative demonstrates how improved connectivity, capacity building, and inclusive data governance can simultaneously advance human rights, safety, biodiversity conservation, and economic resilience in small-scale fisheries.
