Fisheries sector occupies a very important place in the socio -economic development of the country. This sector is thus an important source of livelihood for a large section of economically backward population of the country, particularly in coastal areas. Fishing is the traditional occupation of a community of fisherman living along the seacoast. Fishing and allied activities constitute an industry and have created employment opportunities for more and more fisherman having different skills in different fields of fisheries. It offers a wide scope to fulfill the objective of production-cum-employment envisaged in the developments plans in India. It provides direct employment to millions of sample fisherman and indirect employment through associate networks like net-making, boat-making, boat-repairing, fish-processing, fish transportation etc. In this context the fisheries sector given high priority since it has the potential of employment generation. They have acquired a secondary status in social life, economic activities, and decision-making. A number of socio-economic constrains limit their work productivity and role in employment and income generating activities. They have the potential to play an active and sometimes dominant role in fishing related activities.The state of Tamil has a coastal length of 1076 k.m which constitutes about 15 per cent of Indian coastal line. There are 695 fishing villages in 16 coastal districts in Tamil Nadu. The fisherman living the coastal fishing villages are 8.79 lakh,which include 4.58lakh fisherman and 5.31lakh fishermen. The literacy rate is 77percent. About 4.70lakh metric tonnes of fish are caught in commandant coast Palkbay, and Gulf of Mannar coast throughout the year. There are about four lakhs of fishermen in Tamilnadu low, which only about 44,000 are productively employed in fishing related activities in Thoothukudi district, one of the important maritime districts of Tamilnadu the fishing workers are busily engaged in all the shore-based activities often go unnoticed. This will also pave the way for proper compensation for their activities through suitable policy measures. The present research aims at studying the economic appraisal of marine fishing workers in Tiruchendur Taluk, Thoothukudi district.

Costal, Fishing Environment, Rural, Tiruchendur, economic activities,