New Delhi, April 28 (HS): The Coastal States Fisheries Meet: 2025 took place in Mumbai, todau on April 28,chaired by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAH&D) and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. The event featured the presence of various dignitaries, including Minister of State Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel and George Kurian, as well as Governors and Fisheries Ministers from coastal states and UTs. During the meet, key projects worth Rs. 255 crores were inaugurated for seven coastal states and UTs under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). Notable initiatives launched included the 5th Marine Fisheries Census and PMMSY guidelines on Turtle Excluder Devices. Tablets with the digital app VyAS-NAV were distributed, along with the first aqua insurance awards under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY). The event marked the commencement of the 5th Marine Census, involving extensive training over three months, expected to conclude by December 2025. The VyAS-NAV app, developed by ICAR-CMFRI, aims for a digital and transparent data collection process during the census, covering 1.2 million fisher households.
The Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) -2025 aims to thoroughly document every marine fisher family, village, fishing craft, gear, and related infrastructure across the country. Utilizing custom mobile and tablet apps developed by CMFRI for data collection will minimize manual errors and enhance data compilation for policy use. The census operations begin with field operations and focus on household enumeration, scheduled for November-December 2025.
Currently, preparatory activities are underway, including the validation of Marine Fisheries villages. This phase includes workshops and two training rounds for enumerators, primarily sourced from local communities. Approximately 3,500 villages and 1.2 million households will be involved in the census, with village enumeration concluding by May-June, while detailed family-level data will be collected in November-December. The operations extend from April to December, with data gathering being performed by enumerators equipped with smart devices to capture demographic, socio-economic details, and the impact of government schemes.
Training for enumerators and validation of village data will utilize the VyAS-NAV platform. Key milestones include official announcements during World Fisheries Day, and a timeline encompassing preparation and validation activities between November 2024 and November 2025.
From November to December 2025, a comprehensive 45-day Marine Fisheries Census will be conducted, where enumerators will visit marine fisher households across various fishing villages, supervised at multiple levels (district, state, regional, and national). According to the 2016 Census, there are 3,477 marine fishing villages distributed across states like West Bengal (171), Odisha (739), Andhra Pradesh (533), Tamil Nadu (575), and others.
The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) introduces a new aquaculture insurance under the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP), targeting small and marginalized farmers. This initiative allows easy digital access to insurance, helping fishers mitigate risks and safeguard their incomes against unexpected losses. Coverage is available for registered aquafarmers, cooperatives, and Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs).
Farmers can select between Basic Insurance or Comprehensive Insurance, with special incentives for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and women beneficiaries. The initiative marks a significant step in providing dedicated financial protection to aquafarmers, reinforcing inclusivity and stability within the aquaculture sector. Notable beneficiaries include multiple farmers from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
