The Library and Documentation Centre of the ICAR Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) serves as an innovative knowledge resource management unit, empowering its academic community through a dynamic learning and research environment. As the central information hub of CMFRI, it anchors the institute's academic data and information services, facilitating seamless access to scholarly resources.The goal of the L&D Center is to offer cutting-edge data backup to fisheries academia. The CMFRI Library, specializing in fisheries, curates a vast collection of both physical and digital resources meticulously curated over decades. These resources encompass fisheries and allied subjects, authored by leading scholars and published by prestigious institutions worldwide. The Library and Documentation Center have made great strides throughout the years and has contributed to the Institute's rise to international recognition.The CMFRI Library boasts a comprehensive collection of physical resources exceeding thousands of journals dating back to 1947. It encompasses a staggering 16,500+ books and a wealth of other materials, including theses, dissertations, CDs, reports, proceedings, conference volumes, monographs, expedition and cruise reports, encyclopedias, atlases, navigation charts, posters, and miscellaneous publications. These resources cover a vast array of subjects, including fisheries, aquaculture, marine sciences, oceanography, marine biology, ecology, nautical sciences, environmental sciences, biochemistry, genetics, and biotechnology. The CMFRI Digital Library serves as a dynamic hub for digital, audio, and video resources, supporting the academic and research needs of faculty, scholars, and students. By leveraging modern technologies, it ensures uninterrupted access to an extensive collection of marine and fisheries literature.To support the scientific community, the platform integrates both internal repositories and global research databases:

• Internal Repositories: Eprints@CMFRI (Open Access) and DSpace@CMFRI (Intranet Only)
• External Databases & Initiatives (Intranet Only) : One Nation One Subscription (ONOS), Wiley Online Journals & E-Books, FAO Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), and the National Digital Library of India (NDLI)

Complementing these digital offerings, the web-based OPAC allows users to seamlessly explore the library’s extensive physical collections.The CMFRI Library primarily serves scientists and scholars from fisheries research institutes and educational institutions in India and abroad. With prior permission, anyone interested in fisheries may consult the library’s resources free of cost.Library coordinates the publication and printing of CMFRI publications. Stock and sale of CMFRI Publications is also maintained by the Library. ISBN, ISSN numbers, CMFRI publication numbers etc. are also provided by the Centre. Similarity checking services are provided to the faculty and researchers using a subscribed software, Ithenticate. To assist researchers in statistical analysis and visualization of complex, multivariate ecological and environmental data, PRIMER (Plymouth Routines In Multivariate Ecological Research) and Canoco 5 are also made available at the Library. Services of premium subscribed AI assisted tools like Canva and ChatGPT are also arranged to assist the user community in their research communication process. Graphic Design and Documentation services including layout and design of institute publications and digital content creation are also carried out by a specialized unit attached to the Library : Creative Design and Documentation Suite (CDDS), a centralized facility for institutional publishing, communication, and visual media. Scientific Documentation works such as scanning and archiving of old and rare documents, sketching of marine organisms, photography and videography of science events, upkeep and maintenance of digital media content etc. are also carried out by the Centre.CMFRI has  published more than 15000 scientific papers in Indian and International journals books, special publications and bulletins. In addition, the CMFRI Newsletter, Marine Fisheries Information Service and the Indian Journal of Fisheries are published quarterly to keep everyone informed about the recent research and developments. All the research outputs published are accessible from Eprints@CMFRI , the Open Access Institutional Repository of ICAR- Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute. Research outputs of CMFRI - journal articles, conference papers, reports, theses, patents etc. are uploaded. The platform provides global, free, and unrestricted access to full-text research publications. Indexed by major web search engines and scientific databases worldwide, Eprints@CMFRI ensures maximum discoverability and impact for CMFRI’s research contributions.

Contact Library :  

Dr. K.S. Sobhana
Scientist-in-charge
Library and Documentation Centre
ICAR - Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
P.B.No.1603, Ernakulam North P.O.
Kochi – 682 018, Kerala, India
Phone:  +91-0484-2394867, Extn: 218/326
Email:  cmfrilibrary@gmail.com
Website : https://www.cmfri.org.in/about-library 

CMFRI Library Virtual Tour : A dedicated 360-degree virtual walkthrough video tour of the Library is hosted for those are interested : https://www.cmfri.org.in/library/