India is endowed with a diversity of inland and marine water resources which sustains a large fishery sector in the country. With a coastline of 8118km, the country ranks third in total world fish Production and second in inland aquaculture. India contributes nearly five percent towards global fish production. Marine fisheries sector in India provides a gainful source of employment income and livelihood to the million of fisher folk. The socio-economic status and livelihood status of these fishermen assumes significance in formulating fishery development programmes for augmenting the fisheries production and raising the socio-economic status of people involved in this sector

KEYWORDS: marine water, fishery sector, fish production, fisherwomen