The household enumeration phase of the National Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025 commenced on November 3, 2025, running for 45 days until December 18, 2025. Launched under the slogan 'Smart Census, Smarter Fisheries' by Union Minister George Kurian at ICAR-CMFRI, Kochi on October 31, the census covers over 1.2 million fisher households across more than 4,000 marine fishing villages in 9 coastal states and 4 Union Territories. This is the first fully digitised marine fisheries census in India's history, powered by the VYAS app suite: VyAS-NAV (for fishing village validation), VyAS-BHARAT (household enumeration), and VyAS-SUTRA (real-time supervision). For the first time, data includes total family income, homeownership, outstanding liabilities, credit sources, insurance status, and the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on fishing communities. Enumerators are required to register all fishermen on the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) to enable access to PM Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) benefits.
National Marine Fisheries Census 2025 Begins: India's First Fully Digital Fisheries Census Covering 1.2 Million Households
The household enumeration phase of the National Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025 commenced on November 3, 2025, running for 45 days until December 18, 2025. Launched under the slogan 'Smart Census, Smarter Fisheries' by Union Minister George Kurian at ICAR-CMFRI, Kochi on October 31, the census covers over 1.2 million fisher households across more than 4,000 marine fishing villages in 9 coastal states and 4 Union Territories. This is the first fully digitised marine fisheries census in India's history, powered by the VYAS app suite: VyAS-NAV (for fishing village validation), VyAS-BHARAT (household enumeration), and VyAS-SUTRA (real-time supervision). For the first time, data includes total family income, homeownership, outstanding liabilities, credit sources, insurance status, and the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on fishing communities. Enumerators are required to register all fishermen on the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) to enable access to PM Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) benefits.
Key facts
- National Marine Fisheries Census 2025 commenced on November 3 for 45 days until December 18, 2025.
- It is India's first fully digital marine fisheries census, powered by VYAS app suite.
- Covers 1.2 million+ fisher households across 4,000+ marine fishing villages in 9 coastal states and 4 UTs.
- Launched under slogan 'Smart Census, Smarter Fisheries' by Union Minister George Kurian.
- First time census captures total family income, homeownership, and COVID-19 socio-economic impact data.
- Enumerators must register fishermen on National Fisheries Digital Platform for PM-MKSSY benefits.
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Approximately how many fisher households across how many coastal states and Union Territories are covered by India's National Marine Fisheries Census 2025?
The article states the MFC 2025 covers over 1.2 million fisher households across more than 4,000 marine fishing villages in 9 coastal states and 4 Union Territories, making it India's first fully digital marine fisheries census.
Source: PIB / ICAR-CMFRI / SeafoodSource
Frequently asked questions
What is the National Marine Fisheries Census 2025 and when did it begin?
The National Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025 is India's seventh marine fisheries census and the first to be fully digitised. The household enumeration phase commenced on November 3, 2025 and ran for 45 days until December 18, 2025. It was launched under the slogan 'Smart Census, Smarter Fisheries' by Union Minister George Kurian at ICAR-CMFRI, Kochi on October 31, 2025.
What is the geographic and demographic coverage of the Marine Fisheries Census 2025?
The census covers over 1.2 million fisher households across more than 4,000 marine fishing villages in 9 coastal states (including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Gujarat) and 4 Union Territories with a coastline.
What is the VYAS app suite and what role does it play in the Marine Fisheries Census?
The VYAS app suite (Vessel, Yard, Asset, and Survey) is the digital platform used in the Marine Fisheries Census 2025 for data collection by enumerators. It enables real-time data entry, geo-tagging, and automatic upload to the National Fisheries Digital Platform, making it the first fully digitised fisheries census in India's history.
What new data points are being collected in the 2025 Marine Fisheries Census that were not captured before?
For the first time, the 2025 Marine Fisheries Census captures total family income, homeownership status, and the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on fishing communities. It also mandates registration of fishermen on the National Fisheries Digital Platform for PM-MKSSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Saha-Yojana) benefits.
What is ICAR-CMFRI and what is its role in Indian fisheries?
ICAR-CMFRI (Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute) is a premier research institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), headquartered in Kochi, Kerala. It conducts scientific research on marine fisheries, biodiversity, and aquaculture, and serves as the nodal agency for conducting the National Marine Fisheries Census.
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