Marine census to cover 1.2 million fisher households in Nov-Dec

Mangaluru: A massive data collection drive covering 1.2 million fisher households across coastal states and Union territories for the fifth National Marine Fisheries Census (MFC 2025) will begin in Nov.
The census will document socio-economic conditions of marine fisher families and map fisheries infrastructure spanning the entire coastline of the country. Enumerators selected from the local fishing community will reach every marine fisherman household for a 45-day massive exercise during Nov and Dec, stated a release from ICAR-CMFRI, Mangaluru Regional Centre.
The department of fisheries, ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying department is funding and coordinating the National Marine Fisheries Census under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) is the nodal agency for the implementation of the census in mainland India, that is the nine coastal states. The Fishery Survey of India (FSI) is entrusted with the data collection from the Union territories, including islands.
In a preparatory step for one of the country's most essential data collection exercises, a high-level meeting chaired by Neetu Kumari Prasad, joint secretary, department of fisheries, reviewed the progress, the prerequisites, and the anticipated timeline of the census. The state fisheries departments offered their full support to the exercise for a range of areas, including finalisation of village lists and sharing manpower and resources.
The census will gather demographic and livelihood data of fishing communities, and infrastructure details including fishing vessels, gears, harbours, fish landing centres, processing units, and cold storage facilities.
Neetu Kumari said MFC 2025 will see a paradigm shift through the adoption of modern digital tools, including mobile-based applications, geo-tagging, and real-time data validation. "This will significantly enhance efficiency, accuracy, and professionalism in data collection," she said, adding that the census is crucial to enhance evidence-based fisheries governance, livelihood planning, and sustainable marine resource management in India.
"The census will provide vital information to shape policies on marine fisheries management, welfare schemes, and infrastructure development, directly impacting millions dependent on marine livelihoods," said Dr Grinson George, director of CMFRI and national coordinator of the MFC 2025.
Customised schedules for data collection and the deployment strategy, which involves local enumerators from marine fishing villages, supervised by regional, state, and district-level coordinators, were briefed during the meeting.
Dr Sujitha Thomas, head and principal scientist, Regional Centre CMFRI, Mangaluru, said that in Karnataka the survey will be held in all three coastal districts and the preparations are on.