CMFRI will be the node agency for the fifth National Marine Fisheries Census, scheduled to be held from November to December

The Kochi-based Central Marine Fisheries Institute (CMFRI) will be the Nodal agency, which will conduct the fifth National Marine Fisheries Census (MFC 2025) from November to December this year.

This large-scale data collection will cover 1.2 billion households (UTs) in coastal and union territory (UTs) and will record their socioeconomic status, in addition to mapping fisheries across India’s entire coastline. According to a press release on Saturday, enumerators selected from local fishing communities will arrive at each marine fisherman family for a 45-day data collection activity.

“The census will provide vital information to develop policies on marine fishery management, welfare programs and infrastructure development that directly impacts millions of dependency on marine livelihoods,” said Grinson George, CMFRI and MFC 2025 MFC 2025 National Coordinator.

In union territory

The Fisheries Census was funded and coordinated by the Union Fisheries Department, the Ministry of Livestock and Dairy Fisheries, under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The census of mainland India – in nine coastal countries – will be conducted by the CMFRI, while the Fisheries Survey of India (FSI) has commissioned data collection for joint territories including islands.

The census will collect demographic and livelihood data from fishing communities, as well as details of infrastructure such as fishing boats, fish gear, ports, fish farming centers, processing units and refrigeration facilities.

A high-level meeting chaired by the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries Neetu Kumari Prasad reviewed the progress, prerequisites and expected timelines of the census. The importance of cooperation and cooperation between state governments and implementation agencies was highlighted to ensure the success of the upcoming census. Fisheries departments in various states provide full support for the sport, including finalizing the list of villages, sharing human and resources.

Digital Tools

Ms Prasad said the census will be adopted through adoption of modern digital tools, including mobile-based applications, geotags and real-time data verification. She added that these census are crucial to enhancing evidence-based fishery governance, livelihood programmes and sustainable marine resource management in India.

J. Jayasankar is the head of the Department of Fisheries Resources Assessment, Economics and Extension (FRAEED) and the head of the census project, providing the latest information on preparatory activities that have been launched and a detailed schedule of expected activities.

During the meeting, customized timetables for data collection and deployment strategies were conducted involving local enumerators supervised by regional, state and district-level coordinators. Senior Fisheries Department officials, including Fisheries Development Commissioner K. Mohammed Koya; Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Pandey; and Co-Director Manish Bindal also spoke. The conference was attended by senior officials from the ministry, state and UT Fisheries Departments, FSI and CMFRI.