Marine Fisheries Census 2025 Goes Fully Digital with VYAS Apps

India has taken a significant leap in modernising its marine data infrastructure with the launch of the Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025 — now a fully digital exercise. Unveiled on November 1, 2025, by Union Minister George Kurian in Kochi, the census integrates real-time data collection, geo-referencing, and drone technology, transforming how India documents and plans for the livelihoods of coastal communities. With the slogan “Smart Census, Smarter Fisheries,” this nationwide effort marks the fifth edition of India’s marine fisheries census and the first to be conducted entirely through digital platforms.

What Makes MFC 2025 Historic?

Full Digitisation Using VYAS App Suite

Replacing traditional paper-based enumeration, MFC 2025 will now rely on a suite of multilingual Android apps developed by ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI),

• VYAS–NAV: Validates fishing villages and harbours
• VYAS–BHARAT: Conducts household and infrastructure surveys
• VYAS–SUTRA: Enables real-time supervision and monitoring

This marks a paradigm shift in how marine data is collected, ensuring greater accuracy, faster analytics, and real-time dashboard tracking at state and national levels.

Coverage and Timeline

• Duration: 45 days, from 3 November to 18 December 2025
• Scope: 1.2 million fisher households
• Regions Covered: 13 coastal States and UTs, including Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep
• Villages Targeted: Over 5,000 marine fishing villages and habitations

Drone-Based Craft Enumeration

• For the first time, the census incorporates drone surveillance for aerial mapping of fishing crafts during trawl ban periods.
• Key harbours like Vizag, Kakinada, Tuticorin, Mangaluru, and Beypore were surveyed to ensure neutral and verifiable data collection.
• This will provide high-accuracy baselines to cross-check on-ground enumeration and support climate-resilient planning.

Institutional Framework

The Marine Fisheries Census 2025 is,

• Fully funded by: Department of Fisheries, Government of India
• Nodal Agency: ICAR–CMFRI (Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute)
• Operational Partner: Fishery Survey of India (FSI)
• Pre-census events held: National workshops and the Coastal States Fisheries Meet 2025 helped align execution across states.

Kurian also encouraged registration on the National Fisheries Development Portal (NFDP) to help fishers access schemes, technology, and subsidies.

Static Facts

• Census Name: Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025
• Launch Date: 1 November 2025
• Census Period: 3 Nov – 18 Dec 2025 (45 days)
• Households Covered: 1.2 million
• Regions: 13 coastal States/UTs + Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep
• Slogan: “Smart Census, Smarter Fisheries”