Marine fisheries census in three coastal districts in State from Monday

A month-long nation-wide marine fisheries census, covering the three coastal districts of the State, will begin on February 1.

The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), a research body under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR-CMFRI), will conduct the census.

The Union government conducts the marine fisheries census once in every five years.

The last census was conducted in 2010.

According to the CMFRI, the census would be conducted in 360 marine fishing villages in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts.

In all, 220 enumerators will be on duty in the three districts.

The census exercises will include collecting information about marine fishermen families, fishing craft and gears, social and educational profile and demographic features of marine fishing villages.

Across the country, about 3,000 enumerators will visit 11 lakh fishermen families spread across 4,250 marine fishing villages located in 73 districts to collect the details. The entire process will be monitored and supervised by 220 officials posted at 26 centres.

The island regions of Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep will be enumerated under the supervision of Fishery Survey of India.

The data would be analysed by the scientists of the institute to develop a comprehensive census database, which will be helpful in facilitating formulation of fisheries-related plans and policies in the marine sector.

The census will end on March 1. The total expenditure is estimated at Rs. 3.8 crore.