95 Winter School on Technological Advances in Mariculture for Production Enhancement and Sustainability Introduction Capture fisheries is undergoing tremendous changes either due to increased fishing pressure or due to decrease in the production of certain groups due to fishery dependent or fishery independent factors. In spite of increasing effort the catch of almost all commercially important fin fishes and shell fishes is on the decline and results in severe resource depletion and unemployment. Fishermen community solely depending on fishing for their livelihood is facing an uncertain future. Decline in marine capture fishery also affects the availability of cheap protein for the masses and also affects the GDP growth of the country. It is estimated that the demand for fish will increase by 4% in developed countries and by 57% in developing countries. It is in this context cage farming of fin fishes and shell fishes assume importance as a means to increase fish production. Since cage farming is done in open waters were wave action and current takes care of the day to day maintenance of the cultured fishes. Unlike pond cultured fishes the carbon foot print in cage culture is relatively low and therefore more eco friendly. Cage Culture Cage farming was originally developed in Asia especially in China almost 200 years ago. Initially net bags were attached to fixed poles and fishes were reared in these net bags. Later this has developed into a practice that supports the livelihood of the traditional fishermen. In all the Asian countries cage farming is more of a livelihood activity than an industrial activity. The primary reason for this is the large number of fishermen population who are marginalized and poor. Fishermen in many Asian countries are landless people and cage farming is a boon to them. In many Asian countries fishermen families live in the floating cage farm with their children and pets. Where as in the western countries cage farming is an industrial activity or a business activity. Here cages are large managed by advanced equipments for maintenance, feeding, growth monitoring etc. Here cage farming is done by companies and generates huge profits. The main reason for the development of industrial cage farming in the west is lack of manpower to engage in cage farming. There is a distinct difference between livelihood cage farming and industrial cage farming and one should not get confused between the development models a country like India requires to address the livelihood issues of poor fishermen. India has 14 million fishermen living along both the West and East coast of India. These fishermen are a marginalized group who has limited access to the welfare schemes of the government and solely depends on the declining marine fishery resources in the coastal waters. Grow-out Culture of High Value Finfishes in Cost-Effective Cages K. K. Philipose Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi - 18