Here is a fisheries job that comes with a posting most researchers only dream about: the ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) is hiring one Young Professional-I (YP-I) at its Field Laboratory in Kavaratti, Lakshadweep, under the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project. The pay is Rs. 30,000 per month (fixed), and applications close on 17 November 2026 through an online form.
If you hold a fisheries or marine biology degree and want hands-on island fieldwork — seagrass beds, seaweed farming and climate-resilient marine research in one of India’s most fragile coral island ecosystems — this is a short, sharp window. There is only one vacancy, so an early, complete application matters.
The post at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Institute | ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) |
| Place of work | ICAR-CMFRI Field Laboratory, Kavaratti (KVK-Lakshadweep Campus), Lakshadweep |
| Project | National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) |
| Post | Young Professional-I (YP-I) — 1 vacancy |
| Notification reference | F.No: 03/02/2021/CMFRI-LD(NICRA) |
| Monthly emoluments | Rs. 30,000/- fixed per month |
| Nature of appointment | Contractual, non-regular and time-bound — purely temporary, up to five years or till completion of the project, whichever is earlier |
| Application mode | Online (Google Form), with scanned certificates uploaded |
| Last date to apply | 17 November 2026 |
| Selection | Screening of applications, then interview (offline/online) at Kavaratti for shortlisted candidates only |
Who can apply
The essential qualification is a B.F.Sc., B.Sc. Aquaculture, B.Sc. Marine Biology, or an equivalent branch of biological science. That breadth matters: the notice is written for fisheries and marine biology graduates first, but equivalent biological science degrees are also in scope.
Two preferences can set an application apart. Candidates with an M.F.Sc. or M.Sc. plus experience in seagrass restoration or seaweed farming will be preferred — both are core NICRA themes in island waters, where seagrass meadows anchor coastal ecosystems and seaweed farming is a climate-resilient livelihood. Candidates skilled in swimming will also be given preference, which makes sense for fieldwork that involves boats, lagoons and shore-based surveys.
The age limit is 21 to 45 years as on the date of interview. Because this is a Young Professional post under ICAR norms, it is a contractual engagement: selected candidates will have no claim to regular appointment at the institute.
What the work involves
NICRA is ICAR’s flagship programme for climate-resilient agriculture, and its marine arm studies how warming seas, changing rainfall and extreme events affect coastal and island ecosystems — and what farming and fishing communities can do about it. At Kavaratti, that work sits inside a living laboratory: coral reefs, seagrass beds and lagoon fisheries that respond quickly to environmental change.
A Young Professional here should expect field-based research support: survey work, sample collection, data recording and documentation, and the day-to-day running of project activities at a small island field station. It is not a desk job in Kochi — the posting itself is the point, and applicants should be ready for island field conditions, boat-based work and a small-team station.
For a young fisheries graduate, the career value is real. Island field experience with a national institute, NICRA project exposure and work on seagrass and seaweed themes all strengthen later applications for research fellowships, PhD programmes and state and central fisheries roles. The post is temporary, but the experience is the kind that interview panels remember.
How to apply — step by step
- Read the official notification first. Go to the CMFRI career section on the official website (cmfri.org.in) and open the notification for the Kavaratti Young Professional-I post under NICRA (F.No: 03/02/2021/CMFRI-LD(NICRA)). The notification carries the application form link and the full terms — check it before you submit anything.
- Prepare scanned copies of your original certificates from matriculation onwards. The notice requires all original certificates in scanned form, uploaded through the online form. Applicants without these will not be allowed to appear for the interview, so gather them before you start.
- Complete the declarations. Furnish the declarations in Annexure-I and Annexure-II, duly signed, and declare any relatives working in ICAR-CMFRI, as the notification requires.
- Arrange supporting documents. If you are currently employed, keep a No Objection Certificate from your present employer ready. If your degree uses a CGPA/OGPA grading system, keep the approved conversion table ready for the reporting stage.
- Submit the online form on or before 17 November 2026. Applications go through the Google Form linked in the official notification. Submit early — a single-vacancy call leaves no room for a last-day technical problem.
- Watch your email. Shortlisted candidates will be intimated by email. The interview will be held offline or online at the ICAR-CMFRI Field Laboratory, Kavaratti, and candidates must produce one valid ID proof at the time of interview.
Important: No TA/DA will be paid for appearing for the interview. The notification summary mentions no application fee — confirm this in the official notice itself before applying. No interview date is stated in the notification summary; the date and mode will be communicated to shortlisted candidates by email.
Why this one stands out
Most ICAR fisheries openings this season are at mainland headquarters or regional centres. Kavaratti is different: a one-person island posting where the research site is a coral atoll, not a campus. For candidates who genuinely want marine fieldwork — and who can swim, handle boats and work in a small island team — that is a feature, not a drawback.
The timing also helps applicants plan. With the deadline on 17 November 2026, candidates who miss CMFRI’s Kochi NICRA call (closing 6 November) or the Vizhinjam Field Assistant call (closing 18 November) still have a live option in the same institute — but the single vacancy means competition will be focused, and a strong, complete application is essential.
Related fisheries openings on Fisheries India
- CMFRI Hiring 5 Climate YPs: Apply by Nov 6! — the Kochi NICRA call, one YP-II at ₹42,000/month and four YP-I posts at ₹30,000/month.
- CMFRI Hiring 2 Field Assistants: Apply by Nov 18! — two field posts at the Vizhinjam Regional Centre at Rs. 20,000/month.
- CMFRI Hiring 3 Young Professionals: ₹30,000/Month! — three YP-I posts at CMFRI Kochi on a sea-going research project.
- ICAR-CIFE RA & JRF 2026: ₹61,000 Pay, Apply by Nov 7 — a Research Associate and a JRF post at CIFE Mumbai under a DBT-funded project.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to apply? The last date for submitting the application and scanned certificates through the online Google Form is 17 November 2026.
What is the salary? Rs. 30,000 per month, fixed, for the Young Professional-I post.
Is this a permanent job? No. The appointment is purely temporary and contractual, for up to five years or till completion of the project, whichever is earlier.
What qualification do I need? B.F.Sc., B.Sc. Aquaculture, B.Sc. Marine Biology, or an equivalent branch of biological science. An M.F.Sc. or M.Sc. with seagrass restoration or seaweed farming experience is preferred, as is swimming skill.
Where will the interview be held? At the ICAR-CMFRI Field Laboratory, Kavaratti (offline or online), for shortlisted candidates only. Shortlisted candidates will be intimated by email.
Where is the official notification? On the official CMFRI website (cmfri.org.in), in the career/recruitment section — notification reference F.No: 03/02/2021/CMFRI-LD(NICRA). Read the full notice before applying, and verify every detail there, since this post summarises the notification as published.
Fact-check note: Details in this post were verified on 30 October 2026 against the published summary (29 October 2026) of the official CMFRI notification for the Kavaratti Young Professional-I post (F.No: 03/02/2021/CMFRI-LD(NICRA)), cross-checked against CMFRI’s active-vacancy listing showing the same post, location and 17 November 2026 deadline. The deadline falls after today’s date, 30 October 2026, so the window is still open. No interview date, application fee or form URL is stated in the notification summary, so none is claimed here — readers should confirm those in the official notice on cmfri.org.in. The images in this post are illustrations.