Discovery Science • RESEARCH • FISHERIES Vipinkumar et al.

The paper highlights the glimpses on gender mainstreaming in Indian marine fisheries sector focusing attention on the gender equity and equality emphasized in the Indian context. Gender empowerment paradigm has been explored along with emphasizing the three pillars such as economic empowerment, well- being and decision making. Policy and programs for aquaculture development in India also have been given a vivid explanation followed by mariculture sector. The mariculture potential of India is vast as there is great scope for developing farming of shrimps, pearl oysters, mussels, crabs, lobsters, sea bass, groupers, mullets, milkfish, rabbit fish, sea cucumber, ornamental fishes, seaweeds etc. Although about 1.2 million ha is suitable for land based saline aquaculture in India, currently only 13 % is utilized. Important legislations in the Mariculture farming systems prevalent in India have been explored step by step with data on involvement of men and women in Marine Fisheries and Mariculture. All the mariculture technologies conspicuously being disseminated by CentalMarine Fisheries Research Institute with involvement of women and those possessing potential for women’s participation such as mussel farming, edible oyster farming, pearl oyster farming and pearl production, clam culture, lobster farming and fattening, crab farming / fattening, sea cucumber culture, marine finfish culture, ornamental fish culture, seaweed culture, open sea cage farming etc have been explained. The paper also highlights the gender issues and challenges in mariculture and marine fisheries sector in India and the future direction to