A brief examination is made of development programmes aimed at improving the status of women in fisheries, with particular reference to the Bay of Bengal Programme. Activities of this programme have included instruction on small business management, net-making, aquaculture, fish processing and marketing; some of these activities focus specifically on women and benefits have included the establishment of day-care centres and schools which offer equal opportunity to girls and women. Although great potential exists for integrating women into fisheries development programmes, a lot remains untapped mainly because women's views are not considered in planning. The importance of this factor in development programmes and follow-up action is stressed.