The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI), headquartered in Kochi, Kerala, announces active openings for Young Professional (YP-I & YP-II) and Research Fellow positions under multiple high-priority sponsored projects. These appointments offer marine scientists, fisheries biologists, and oceanography postgraduates an exceptional platform to participate in marine fish stock assessment, mariculture development, open-sea cage farming, and marine biodiversity conservation along India’s coastal waters.
Overview & Key Highlights
| Recruiting Institute | ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) |
| Headquarters & Regional Stations | Kochi (Kerala), Mandapam (Tamil Nadu), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Mangalore (Karnataka), Veraval (Gujarat), Vizhinjam (Kerala) |
| Positions Available | Young Professional-I (YP-I), Young Professional-II (YP-II), Senior Research Fellows (SRF) |
| Monthly Emoluments | YP-I: ₹30,000/- per month (Fixed) YP-II: ₹42,000/- per month (Fixed) |
| Core Scientific Focus | Marine Fisheries Stock Assessment, Mariculture, Open-Sea Cage Farming, Seaweed Biology |
| Application Timeline | Email Application Deadline: October 1, 2026 (Active Call via ffdcareer26@gmail.com) & Walk-in Screening in October 2026 |
| Official Portal | cmfri.org.in |
Major Research Thrusts & Scientific Scope
ICAR-CMFRI is India’s leading marine fisheries research organisation, operating research vessels and monitoring marine living resources across India’s 2.02 million km² Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Appointed fellows will participate in cutting-edge programs covering:
- Marine Fisheries Resource Assessment: Monitoring marine fish landings, multi-species stock biomass estimation, maximum sustainable yield (MSY) calculations, and acoustic biomass surveying.
- Mariculture & Open-Sea Cage Culture: Breeding, hatchery seed production, and cage grow-out of premium marine finfish (cobia, silver pompano, Asian seabass, snappers) and shellfishes.
- Seaweed Mariculture & Bioprospecting: Commercial cultivation protocols for Kappaphycus alvarezii and Gracilaria species, environmental impact assessment of seaweed farms, and bioactive marine extract screening.
- Marine Biodiversity & Ecosystem Health: Health assessments of coral reef habitats (Gulf of Mannar, Lakshadweep), marine mammal monitoring, marine microplastics tracking, and marine protected area (MPA) management.
Eligibility Criteria & Educational Qualifications
Applicants must satisfy the educational standards set by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR):
- For Young Professional-I (YP-I):
- Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries Science (B.F.Sc.) or Bachelor’s in Zoology, Life Sciences, Fisheries, Marine Biology, or Environmental Sciences with at least 60% marks.
- Desirable: Field experience in marine fish landing data collection, basic taxonomic identification of marine fauna, and computer database management.
- For Young Professional-II (YP-II):
- Master’s degree (M.F.Sc.) in Fisheries Resource Management, Mariculture, Aquatic Environment Management, Fish Genetics, or Fishery Science.
OR - M.Sc. in Marine Biology, Oceanography, Zoology (Marine specialization), Aquatic Microbiology, or Marine Biotechnology with a minimum of 60% marks.
- Desirable: Experience in sea-going research expeditions, water quality analysis, GIS/statistical software (R/Python), or molecular taxonomic techniques.
- Master’s degree (M.F.Sc.) in Fisheries Resource Management, Mariculture, Aquatic Environment Management, Fish Genetics, or Fishery Science.
Age Limit & Monthly Emoluments
- Age Limit: Minimum 21 years and maximum 45 years on the date of application (statutory age relaxations for SC/ST/OBC/Women candidates as per GoI guidelines).
- Consolidated Stipend:
- Young Professional-I: ₹30,000/- per month.
- Young Professional-II: ₹42,000/- per month.
- Tenure: Initially for 1 year, extendable based on project requirements and performance assessment.
Application & Interview Guidelines
Candidates applying for the active YP-I opening must follow the structured submission process:
- Download the official application biodata format and Annexure-II declaration from the CMFRI website (www.cmfri.org.in).
- Prepare a consolidated PDF containing your completed biodata form, recent passport-size photograph, self-attested copies of all degrees and marksheets, proof of date of birth, category certificates, and experience records.
- Email your application dossier to ffdcareer26@gmail.com with the subject line “Application for the Post of Young Professional-I” before the closing deadline of October 1, 2026.
- Shortlisted applicants will receive confirmation via email with date and venue details for the in-person interview at ICAR-CMFRI, Kochi.
For official recruitment notifications, Annexure-II forms, and upcoming walk-in circulars across all CMFRI stations, visit the ICAR-CMFRI Official Portal.