Prior to November 2009, reports conducted randomly within the fishing sector by various interest groups, although insufficiently benchmarked, have suggested that the penetration of the mobile phone among local fisher folk has been very high.

Even though a rise in technology use and mobile penetration in Trinidad and Tobago has been evident, there exists little by way of case study resources, documented methodology and process mapping. This has hindered the capability of policy-makers and stakeholders to make transformational changes and to develop informed frameworks within which various telecommunications opportunities can be harnessed for the development of the sector.

To a large extent, the m-Fisheries research project has arisen from the dearth of reliable and relevant quantitative and qualitative data regarding the small-scale fishing industry and ICT indicators on the usage and impact of mobile communication services on human and economic development in the low-income Caribbean. m-Fisheries applies and documents greater richness and uniformity in the gathering and analysis of empirical data. It also demonstrates application of the knowledge so gained, to the design, development and deployment of innovative mobile solutions for small scale fisher folk in Trinidad and Tobago.