Fish catch survey and analysis: A tool to collect and estimate the landings of marine resources from artisanal fisheries in Indian waters

Artisanal fisheries contribute significantly to marine fish production in India, particularly for species such as tuna and tuna-like resources. Accurate and timely data on landings from this sector are essential for assessing trends, monitoring species distribution, and supporting sustainable management. The Fish Catch Survey and Analysis (FCSA) system, developed by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), is a digital tool introduced in 2018 to modernize and streamline marine fishery data collection. Replacing the conventional paper-based approach, FCSA significantly improved efficiency, cost-effectiveness, data accuracy, and processing speed. Field staff (harbour-based observers) receive pre-configured monthly work schedules via a central server and record data using tablets in structured formats. The system allows offline data collection in remote coastal areas with poor connectivity, enabling later synchronization with the server when networks are restored. This has expanded the spatial coverage and reliability of data collection. FCSA marks a transformative shift in fisheries data management by enhancing resolution, reducing errors, and enabling near real-time analytics for marine fishery resource estimation.