Introduction

The National Marine Fisheries Census 2025 is a big survey happening in India right now. It is all about counting and learning more about people who work in marine fishing – that means fishing in the sea. This is the fifth time India is doing this census, and it's special because it's the first one that's completely digital, using apps on phones instead of paper.

What is the Census and Why Do It?

India has a long coastline, and millions of people depend on the sea for their work and food. The National Marine Fisheries Census helps the government understand these fishing communities better.

It gathers information about fishermen, their families, their boats, fishing tools, and even places like fish markets and processing factories. The main purpose is to create a clear map of all fishing areas and the people working there.

This information helps the government plan better ways to support fishermen — like giving them insurance, loans, or better equipment. It also aims to make fishing safer and more eco-friendly, especially as climate change affects the oceans. The census also includes people who collect seaweed or raise ornamental fish for aquariums.

Overall, it helps the government use funds wisely for programs such as the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), which works to develop and modernize India’s fishing industry.

How Did It Start?

The census was launched on October 31, 2025, in Kochi, Kerala, by George Kurian, who is a Union Minister of State for Fisheries. He talked about how the government is giving free devices to fishermen, like transponders (to track boats) and turtle excluder devices (to protect turtles while fishing). He also encouraged fishermen to sign up on a special website to get help from the government.

Before starting, there were many workshops to train people. These happened in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and others. They taught coordinators how to use the apps and collect data correctly.

How Does It Work? 

Earlier, the fisheries census in India was done using paper forms, which took a lot of time and often had mistakes. But now, the 2025 census is fully digital. Everything is being done through special mobile apps called VYAS–BHARAT, VYAS–SUTRA, and VYAS–NAV, which work on Android phones and support multiple languages.

• The VYAS–BHARAT app is used to count fishing families, boats, and markets.
•  The VYAS–SUTRA app helps supervisors monitor the data collection in real time and solve any problems that come up during the process.
•  The VYAS–NAV app checks if the information about villages, harbors, and landing centers is correct. These apps also use GPS technology to mark exact locations, so the data collected is more accurate and reliable.

Since the process is paperless, it reduces errors and speeds up results. In some areas, drones are also being used to count boats from the air, especially during fishing ban seasons when boats are parked at the shore.

Thousands of trained workers, called field coordinators, are visiting fishing villages across India. They go door-to-door, asking fishermen and their families about their income, houses, loans, health issues, and how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their lives. This digital method makes the census faster, smarter, and more efficient than ever before.

Where Does It Cover?

The census looks at about 1.2 million fisher families in over 5,000 fishing villages. It includes 13 coastal areas: 9 states (like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat) and 4 Union Territories (Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Daman & Diu).It also covers more than 1,200 places where fish are landed, 50 harbors, markets, and fish processing plants.

When is It Happening?

The main counting started on November 3, 2025, and will end on December 18, 2025. That's 45 days, longer than before because it's bigger and digital. The whole thing should be done by the end of December 2025.

Who is Behind It?

The Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is leading it. They work with the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in Kochi, which is the main agency. Another group, the Fishery Survey of India (FSI), helps with the work.The government has given ₹16.2 crore (about 162 million rupees) for this census.

Why is This Important?

Fishing is key for India's food and jobs. This census will give fresh data to make better rules, like protecting the environment, helping women and young people start fish businesses, and making groups like Self-Help Groups stronger. The slogan is "Smart Census, Smarter Fisheries" – meaning better data leads to better fishing.

In the end, this census will help make India's blue economy (sea-related jobs) stronger and fairer for everyone involved. If you're in a fishing area, you might see enumerators with phones asking questions soon!