The fishery engineering tools is evolving as an important domain in view of depleting stocks on both pre- and post-harvest scenarios. It will also aid in fish processing technologies, optimizing energy and water use in seafood industries, mitigating climate change related issues and reducing carbon footprint. Fishing is the main economic activity within the complex relationship between humans and water - a natural resource "first among equals". Fisheries data compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) show that global marine fisheries increased to 86 million tons in 1996 and then declined slightly. Over the past three decades, employment in fisheries and aquaculture has grown at a faster rate than the global population. It is important to explore new ways to capture, quantify and integrate industry responses to declining fish stocks and to strengthen management regulations in fisheries and environmental management proposals. Technological interventions help to reduce the spoilage of perishable fish through canning and sustainable commodification technologies. Application of appropriate technology in the fish population will help to produce higher quality products and access more markets and higher prices.
The major areas of technological intervention in the field of fisheries technology cover the design and manufacturing of fish processing machines and systems, energy and environmentally efficient solar fish dryers, vessels and frugal fiberglass fishing boats, local metal tools used during harvest and after processing. fisheries technology, fishing fleet improvement in India, and energy and water management strategies in the fish processing industry. Priority areas are development of economical LPGs, biomass solar dryers, infrared or electric reverse heating systems, fish sensors, fish freshness sensors and so on. Solar Dryers Of the total catch, 30-40% of the fish is dried or processed for export and domestic consumption. Sun drying (outdoor drying) is the traditional method used in most parts of the state to dry fishery products. It refers to the exposure of the material to direct sunlight and the convective force of the natural atmosphere. This form of energy is free, renewable and common in every part of the world, especially in tropical countries. In addition, it provides a relatively inexpensive drying process, but often results in product degradation due to exposure to weather and exposure to dust, dirt, rain, insects, rodents and microbes. Solar drying is an alternative that offers many advantages over the traditional method, as well as being environmentally friendly and cost-effective in developing countries. Solar drying uses a system, which is often of very simple order, to enhance the effects of solar radiation. 
Compared to solar drying, solar dryers can generate higher air temperatures and, consequently, lower humidity, which contributes to faster drying and lower final moisture content in the final products. However, there are some problems associated with solar drying, ie. reliability of solar radiation on rainy or cloudy days and inaccessibility at night. In a hybrid solar drying system, drying can continue during the hours of darkness using a stored heat source and stored thermal energy from daylight. Thus, drying becomes a continuous process and the product is protected from possible microbiological damage. These types of hybrid solar dryers find practical applications in developing countries where conventional energy sources are scarce or expensive and the heating capacity of a single solar array is inadequate. In addition, in order to facilitate the drying process (forced convection) in the hybrid dryer, a small fan is placed between the solar collector and the drying chamber or inside the drying chamber, which is powered by the panels of solar panels installed in the drying chamber. In addition, the energy of photovoltaic panels can be harnessed for street lighting. In addition, if the designated space is not used for drying (idle), then it can also be used to produce hot water for domestic needs. Thus, in one location it is supposed to have several tools, ie. fish drying, hot water and power generation.
Solar dryer designs range from simple straight dryers to more complex hybrid designs. Hybrid solar dryers use LPG, biogas, biomass or electricity as an alternative source of heat for continuous cooling of fish even in harsh weather conditions. The capacity of these hybrid solar dryers ranges from 6m2 to 110m2 of tray spreading area to dry a variety of fish from 10kg to 500kg. Labor costs are significantly reduced compared to drying outdoors in the sun on beaches/coconut beds due to the elimination of the cleaning process due to sand and dust contamination. It also does not require reprocessing processes such as distribution, distribution and storage due to non-drying or partial drying due to adverse weather conditions and damage due to rainfall. Drying time is significantly reduced while improving the quality of the product. The shelf life and added value of the product leads to higher returns for fishermen. Environmentally friendly solar drying systems reduce fuel consumption and can significantly impact energy savings. Solar fish dryers, solar fish dryers with electric alternatives and solar fish dryers with additional wood or biomass heating backup, etc. are effectively used for drying fish using renewable, abundant and freely available solar energy.
Solar LPG back-up dryer In a solar fish dryer with LPG back-up heating system, water is heated by solar vacuum tube collectors mounted on the roof of the dryer and circulated through heat exchangers located in the room PU foam-insulated stainless steel fish dryer loaded with fish. Thus, continuous drying without damaging the perishable material is possible in this process to obtain a good quality solid product. The dryer is ideal for drying fish, fruits, vegetables, spices and agricultural products without changing their color or flavor. It helps to dry food faster than drying outside in the sun, while retaining physio-chemical characteristics such as color, taste and aroma of dried foods, while retaining many nutrients. A Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) system can be built in to automatically control temperature, humidity and drying time. Drying on solar usage reduces fuel consumption and can significantly affect energy savings.
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