11 Winter School on Technological Advances in Mariculture for Production Enhancement and Sustainability Introduction The world fish production is around 152 million tonnes supporting the nutritional security of the growing population of the world. Out of the total fish production, aquaculture contributes around 42%. The capture fisheries, though intensive efforts are made for exploitation in many cases is static or declining. In some areas through continuous unregulated over exploitation it has often exceeded the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and aquaculture has to necessarily support the fish production. Aquaculture is considered as one of the potential growth sectors showing annual growth rate between 8 and 10%. and is dominated by Asian countries. The importance of coastal aquaculture in the context of augmenting fish production, improving rural economy and productive utilisation of water resources is well-established. The development of coastal aquaculture received attention since certain fish stocks in the marine capture fishery indicated optimum level of exploitation, and their catch returns, despite increased efforts, showed declining trend. Following this, national Institutes concerned with research and development of marine and brackishwater fisheries, initiated investigations on coastal aquaculture such suitable organisms. Resources The potential coastal water area available in India includes about 8.9 million ha of inshore waters for open- sea farming, and 1.7 million ha of estuaries, backwaters, brackishwater lakes and swamps. A variety of high valued fishes, crustaceans, molluscs, seaweeds and other marine organisms, possessing high reproductive capacity, short larval development, fast rate of growth, and physiological features to adjust to wide changes in the environment are available in our coastal waters. For mariculture, adequate seed resources of the cultivable species are also available, if all local prioritized species are taken into account. There are also a large number of unemployed and under employed fishermen who could advantageously take up coastal aquaculture. Recent advances The marine fish production and the bulk of the brackishwater fish catch of our country are realised through the capture fisheries, the main emphasis of research and developmental activities has so for been in this field. Except for a few isolated studies and experimental and pilot-scale projects taken up by the Fisheries Departments of certain maritime states, there have been no detailed investigations or concerted efforts to develop coastal aquaculture. However, following the recognition of the potentials in the field, its Importance and the high Recent Advances in Coastal Aquaculture Imelda Joseph Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute Post Box No. 1603, Ernakulam North P.O, Cochin, Kerala, India imeldajoseph@gmail.com