Lok Sabha Question No. 1438 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-09
Subject: National Marine Fisheries Census 2025
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Dileshwar Kamait

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1438 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 th  DECEMBER, 2025

## National Marine Fisheries Census 2025

## †1438. Shri Dileshwar Kamait:

Will the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying be pleased to state:

- (a) the salient features of the National Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025 and the manner  in  which  it  differs  from  the  previous  editions  in  terms  of  scope  and methodology;
- (b) the role of digital applications like Vyas Bharat and Vyas Sutra in real time bases georeferenced data collection and monitoring;
- (c) whether such census includes socio-economic profiling, institutional mapping and digital registration of fisherman on the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP); and
- (d) the manner in which data from MFC-2025 is likely to be used for policy decisions, targeted welfare schemes and strengthening fisheries governance?

## ANSWER MINISTER FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

- (a): The  National  Marine  Fisheries  Census  2025  (MFC-2025)  marks  a  significant expansion  in  scope  and  a  complete  transition  to  digital  methodology  compared  to earlier  editions.  Beyond  households,  fishing  craft  and  gear,  the  Census  now systematically  covers  aquaculture  units,  landing  centres,  boat-building  yards,  ice plants, freezing and processing facilities, curing and peeling sheds, and wholesale markets. Dedicated electronic schedules also capture Self-Help Groups, Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs), cooperatives and other institutional structures within fishing  villages.  Unlike  previous  paper-based rounds, MFC-2025 employs real-time digital enumeration with geo-referencing, uniform national protocols and automated quality checks, thereby generating more accurate, comprehensive and high-resolution datasets.

(b): VyAS Bharat and VyAS Sutra function as the core digital platforms for MFC-2025. They enable real-time data entry with GPS tagging, automated validation of records, and  seamless  synchronization  to  central  servers.  Supervisors  and  central  teams access  live  dashboards  displaying  progress  and  location-specific  updates,  which facilitate timely oversight and corrective measures. This technology-enabled approach strengthens  transparency,  accuracy  and  operational  efficiency  across  all  coastal districts.

(c): Yes, Sir. The Census incorporates socio-economic profiling (livelihoods, income categories,  education,  assets,  access  to  schemes,  vulnerability  indicators)  and institutional mapping (cooperatives, SHGs, FFPOs, service units). Enumerators also facilitate  digital  registration  of  fishers  on  the  National  Fisheries  Digital  Platform (NFDP), thereby contributing to the creation of a unified and authenticated national fisher database.

(d): The  datasets  generated  through  MFC-2025  will  serve  as  the  foundation  for evidence-based  policymaking  and  governance.  They  will  inform  region-specific management  and  infrastructure  planning,  climate-resilience  strategies,  targeted welfare  delivery  and  beneficiary  authentication.  In  addition,  they  will  enhance programme monitoring and enable more efficient allocation of resources based on geospatial and household-level evidence.

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