Why in news?
The Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has launched the fifth edition of the Marine Fisheries Census 2025. For the first time the census will be fully digital and geo‑referenced, promising faster and more accurate data.
Background
The Marine Fisheries Census is a coast‑wide enumeration carried out roughly every five years to understand the socio‑economic conditions of fisher households and the status of marine resources. It is fully funded by the Department of Fisheries. The 2025 census is led by the ICAR‑Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) with the Fishery Survey of India (FSI) as the operational partner.
Features of the 2025 census
- Coverage and duration: Enumerators will visit around 5,000 coastal villages in 13 coastal states and Union Territories, including the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. Household data collection will span 45 days.
- Digital architecture: A suite of multilingual Android applications—VyAS–NAV for validating village and harbour lists, VyAS–BHARAT for household enumeration and VyAS–SUTRA for real‑time supervision—will replace paper forms. Drones will be used to count fishing crafts from the air.
- Expanded socio‑economic data: Enumerators will gather information on total family income, housing, outstanding loans, sources of credit, insurance coverage, disability and the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic.
- Institutional mapping: New questionnaires focus on Fish Farmer Producer Organisations and Self‑Help Groups to understand how collective action can strengthen value chains.
Why it matters
- Targeted welfare: Detailed data will help policymakers design welfare schemes under programmes like the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Matsyakara Kisan Samridhi Sah‑Yojana.
- Improved resource management: Geo‑referenced information on fishing effort and catches can inform sustainable fishing limits and marine conservation measures.
- Efficiency and transparency: Digital tools reduce manual errors and allow administrators to monitor progress through dashboards, ensuring timely completion.
Source: Press Information Bureau