Although gender equality is established as a priority in the legislative framework of all the countries that form the European Union, the prevalence of social stereotypes that assign a certain role to men and women impedes their attainment in a substantial way. Most of the women who belong to the fishing sector realize their labour on land - shell fishing, fish farming or transformation -, and are underrepresented in extractive fishing with craft (0.5%). In the case of the Merchant Navy a scanty representation is observed: approximately 7% of the total of marine women, as opposed to 42% of the total of marine men. This gap seems to come from the traditional role that is assigned to women in the family. In the present work, the situation of the women who devote themselves professionally to the maritime sector, both merchant and fishing, is evaluated. In addition, their representation and difficulties of access and promotion in the professional career in the case of the Merchant Navy is analysed.