Economic outcomes in small-scale fish trade: The role of gender norms

By Emma Rice, Abigail Bennett & Patrick Kawaye
Economic analysis of market data was conducted by the research team to understand quantitative differences in livelihood outcomes for women and men engaging in the same trading activities at the same markets. Results from economic models show that gender is a key factor influencing earnings in fish trade and that other important drivers, including processing type and selling market size and location, are also shaped by gender. The team found that while women and men participate in fish trade in near-equal numbers in Malawi, women are earning less money per unit than men and tend to trade in smaller volumes.

A Review of the Multi-dimensional Perspectives of Taboos on Gender Roles of Fisherfolk in the Global South

By Ayodele Oloko, Sarah Harper, Kafayat Fakoya and U. Rashid Sumaila
Traditional knowledge and belief systems can play an important role in contemporary governance systems, making valuable contributions towards sustainable fisheries; however, understanding the role that taboos play in mediating human interactions with ocean resources, especially those limiting women’s access to such resources, is necessary for advancing gender equity in small-scale fisheries.

GeNA: Developing gender-responsive monitoring in NbCS aquaculture projects in Southeast Asia

The Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries Section (GAFS) of the Asian Fisheries Society (AFS) has been awarded a 46 months project titled “Making nature-based climate solutions (NbCS) in aquaculture in Southeast Asia monitoring more gender-responsive: What gets measured gets done.” GeNA or Gender-responsive NbCS in Aquaculture for short is supported by IDRC Canada’s AQUADAPT-SEAPAC grant.

Participatory Action Research enhances fish smokers’ willingness to adopt social change and technology innovation in Lagos, Nigeria

By Kafayat Fakoya, Ayojesutomi Abiodun-Solanke, Adenike Boyo, Shehu Akintola, Kafayat Ajelara, Mayowa Olasope & Ismot Olabamiji
A recent project in Lagos, Nigeria focused on the use of participatory action research (PAR) to change the beliefs, dispositions, and interactions between fish smokers and researchers. It demonstrated how PAR stimulated interest among fish smokers in biomass briquettes and a prototype drum smoking kiln. It also encouraged co-ownership of the research and the readiness to use contemporary technology.

Amphibious Living Opportunities: ALO for the Sundarbans

Vijay Mahajan and SS Tabrez Nasar ask what can the people living in precarious locations in the Indian Sundarbans do to survive rapidly encroaching climate and ecosystem threats? The communities will need to quickly adapt to “Amphibious Living,” including by choosing “Amphibious Living Opportunities.” Abbreviated as ALO (আলো) in the local language, Bengali , this means “illumination” or “light” and also signifies “dawn”.

Gender @ 12th Indian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum

The 12th Indian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (12IFAF) was held in Chennai from 5 to 7 May 2022. We are pleased to report on two events with special relevance to gender in aquaculture and fisheries. The first is an award to a gender stalwart, Dr B. Shanthi, and the second is a report by Dr Nikita Gopal of the Special Session on Gender in Fisheries held at 12IFAF.

Reflections on Gender and Fisheries: Through the lens of presentations @ 13AFAF

The 13th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (13AFAF) was a watershed for how gender was included in Asian Fisheries Society’s triennial Forums. Gender topics were in the Plenary, as a topic session and in the Forum’s graphic elements. The gender theme has come a long way in Asian Fisheries Society and can still go much further. Three messages to take home: why and how research is practices is critical to gender; need to focus more on women’s agency rather than their victimhood and marginality; and gender relations are dynamic under changes in resources and even new technologies.