Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying launched the Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025 along with two digital apps- VyAS–BHARAT and VyAS–SUTRA in Kochi. This marks a historic digital transformation of India’s marine census process, shifting entirely from paper-based enumeration to real-time digital and geo-referenced data collection.
Slogan: “Smart Census, Smarter Fisheries”
Nodal Agency: ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)
Operational Partner: Fishery Survey of India (FSI)
Funded By: Department of Fisheries, Government of India
Historic Digital Leap
- MFC 2025 represents a paradigm shift from earlier censuses (2005, 2010, 2016).
- It is fully digital, paperless, and geo-referenced, capturing data with high accuracy and transparency.
- Covers ~1.2 million fisher households across 5,000 fishing villages/habitations in 13 coastal States and UTs, including Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
Enumeration Details
- Duration: 45 days- from 3 November to 18 December 2025.
- Coverage:
- 1.2 million households
- 5,000 fishing villages
- 1,200+ landing centres
- 50 fishing harbours and jetties
- Markets, processing plants, and infrastructure facilities.
Digital Architecture & Technology Integration
The census is powered by VyAS suite of multilingual Android apps developed by ICAR–CMFRI:
| Application Name | Function |
| VyAS–NAV | Validation of fishing villages and harbours |
| VyAS–BHARAT | Household and infrastructure enumeration |
| VyAS–SUTRA | Real-time supervision and monitoring of enumerators |
- Data collection is geo-tagged and real-time, ensuring transparency, accuracy, and accountability.
- Supervisory dashboards and mobile apps enable real-time tracking and progress monitoring.
Drone-Based Monitoring
- Drone technology is introduced to enhance transparency and accuracy in enumeration.
- Drones used for aerial enumeration of fishing crafts during trawl ban periods:
- East Coast: Vizag, Kakinada, Tuticorin (Apr–Jun)
- West Coast: Mangaluru, Beypore, Puthiyappa (Jun–Jul)
- Enables accurate count of mechanized, motorized (onboard/outboard) fishing crafts.
Data Depth and Focus
The 2025 Census will collect granular socio-economic and infrastructure data far deeper than earlier editions.
Objectives of MFC 2025
- Build a comprehensive national database on marine fisheries.
- Strengthen data-driven policy-making for welfare, resource management, and climate resilience.
- Facilitate targeted welfare delivery under government schemes.
- Support blue economy initiatives and promote sustainable fisheries governance.
- Empower women and youth through entrepreneurship in coastal ecosystems.
Newly Added Data Dimensions
- Household economics: income, debt, ownership, credit sources.
- Insurance and vulnerability mapping: to assess financial resilience.
- Impact of COVID-19: on fisher livelihoods.
- Government schemes: tracking benefits under PMMSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana) and PM-MKSSY (Matsya Kisan Sampada Scheme).
- Institutional Data: inclusion of Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for mapping collective participation in the fisheries value chain.
Governance and Monitoring
- Real-time progress monitoring via multi-tier dashboards and mobile-based supervision apps.
- Extensive pre-census coordination:
- Coastal States Fisheries Meet 2025
- National Workshop at CMFRI, Kochi to finalize the operational strategy.
Significance
- Creates India’s most detailed and verified fisheries database.
- Enhances efficiency, accuracy, and transparency in marine resource mapping.
- Promotes evidence-based planning and better targeting of schemes.
- Supports the government’s “Digital India” and “Blue Economy Mission” objectives.
- Strengthens India’s global positioning in sustainable fisheries governance.
Background: Evolution of Marine Fisheries Census in India
| Edition | Year | Conducted By | Key Advancement |
| 1st | 1980 | CMFRI | Manual enumeration |
| 2nd | 1998 | CMFRI | Village-level mapping |
| 3rd | 2005 | CMFRI | Comprehensive socio-economic survey |
| 4th | 2010 | CMFRI | Household and resource-based data |
| 5th | 2025 | CMFRI + FSI | First fully digital and geo-referenced enumeration |
About Nodal Agencies
ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)
- Established: 1947, headquartered in Kochi, Kerala.
- Under: Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
- Mandate: Marine fisheries research, stock assessment, policy support, and socio-economic studies.
Fishery Survey of India (FSI)
- Established: 1983 (Mumbai).
- Function: Deep-sea resource survey and assessment of marine fishery resources in the Indian EEZ.
- Under: Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
Related Government Schemes
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) – for integrated development of fisheries sector.
- PM Matsya Kisan Sampada Yojana (PM-MKSSY) – focuses on value chain and marketing support.
- Blue Revolution Mission – enhances fish production and sustainable aquaculture.
- Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan – promotes digital tools in rural and marine livelihood mapping.