The annual Vembanad Fish Count of 2025 will be held on September 25 and 26. The 18th edition of the count is being conducted under the aegis of the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment-Community Environmental Resource Centre (ATREE-CERC).

The event will bring together researchers, students, fishers, and conservation enthusiasts to document the fish diversity of Vembanad Lake, the largest wetland ecosystem in Kerala. The programme will commence with an orientation session at 5 p.m. on September 25 at the Karmasadan Pastoral Centre, Alappuzha, where volunteers and participants will be briefed on the methodology, safety measures, and documentation protocols.

The fish count will begin at 6 a.m. on September 26 from Alappuzha, with survey teams covering different zones of Vembanad Lake. The data collected will provide critical insights into the health of the ecosystem.

Preliminary findings

The valedictory function will be held at the KTDC in Thannermukkom at 3 p.m. on September 26, where the preliminary findings of the survey will be presented by the Vembanad Fish Count team. It will be inaugurated by Biju Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos).