Telemedicine to Improve Medical Care of Fishermen in Pelagic Fisheries

Fishermen operating in pelagic fisheries often experience significant barriers to medical care due to geographic isolation, harsh environmental conditions, and the absence of onboard healthcare personnel. Telemedicine offers an effective approach to overcome these limitations by enabling remote diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment through satellite-based communication systems. This review summarizes the progress and applications of telemedicine in maritime and other austere environments, focusing on technological advancements, clinical implementations, and emerging trends in artificial intelligence-driven healthcare. Evidence from pilot and retrospective studies highlights the growing use of wearable devices, telementored ultrasound, digital photography, and cloud-based monitoring systems for managing acute and chronic medical conditions at sea. The integration of machine learning and deep learning algorithms has further improved fatigue, stress, and motion detection, enhancing early risk assessment among seafarers. Despite challenges such as limited connectivity, data privacy concerns, and training requirements, the adoption of telemedicine significantly improves health outcomes, reduces emergency evacuations, and promotes occupational safety. Future directions emphasize the development of 5G-enabled Internet of Medical Things networks and predictive AI tools to establish comprehensive maritime telehealth ecosystems for fishermen in pelagic operations.