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.

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.

Calling for Cooperation in Action for Decent Work and Thriving Businesses for Women in Fisheries

The Cooperative Action Plan recognizes this issue and presents a guide for addressing gender and labor issues faced by women workers in Asia-Pacific fisheries and aquaculture. It focuses on women’s labor and business opportunities, recognizing that women are not a homogenous category and their needs vary according to their working situations, life stages from youth to elderly, ethnicity, education, social and economic positions, immigrant status, among others. A call is made to individuals and organizations to make the Plan a reality.

dry fish, fisherwomen, women empowerment, gender organisation, gaf

Towards a ‘thick description’ of gender relations: a new framework based on dried fish value chains

by Madu Galappaththi. Dried fish is considered a ‘hidden’ sub-sector within small-scale fisheries, and is particularly important in Asia and Africa. Women make up a significant portion of the workforce in this sub-sector. A new framework may reveal a thick description of gender relations.

Women Fish Processing Activities, women empowerment, gender organisation, gaf

In fishing industry, women face hidden hardships: study

By Kiley Price. Women are the unseen backbone of seafood supply chains, supporting local food security and ensuring that fish are processed and packaged for sale at regional and national markets. A recent paper by authors from Conservation International highlights how systemic discrimination and a lack of representation and recognition in the seafood industry worldwide makes women more vulnerable to abuse.

fisherwoman, women empowerment, gender organisation, gaf

Roles of women in the purchasing node of the value chain of tuna in Vietnam: Case study of Binh Dinh province

By Rachel Sundar Raj
Vietnam has seen its economy undergo many drastic changes during the past 40 years, going from a centrally planned economy to a market-driven one. Since the transition to a market-driven economy, many studies on the economics of commodities have been conducted but this story reports on the first study of women in the purchasing node of tuna.

Sewaweed culture, Fisherwoman, women empowerment, gender organisation, gaf

Bringing to light women’s participation in the seaweed industry

By Ms Jee Grace B. Suyo, Virginie Le Masson, Louise Shaxson, Maria Rovilla J. Luhan, Anicia Q. Hurtado
Seaweed farming is an important livelihood source for tens of thousands of families in the Southeast Asia. Using a gendered analysis in the Philippines, this story reveals essential gender aspects of production and risk mitigation strategies.

women empowerment, gender organisation, gaf

Marine science meets social science – a gender and human rights focus in the Pacific

By Natalie Makhoul, PEUMP* In the Pacific, the ocean is home. It connects social and cultural life, while providing key resources such as food and economic benefits, as well as connecting infrastructure and leisure opportunities. The Pacific’s richness in culturally enshrined lifestyles, its vast diversity of Polynesian, Micronesian and Melanesian traditions and its co-existence with Read more about Marine science meets social science – a gender and human rights focus in the Pacific[…]

Latest special issue of Gender, Technology & Development examines new learnings on women and fisheries

26 May 2020 | Bangkok, Thailand: Women work in all stages of the fish value chain, producing, processing and selling fish and through their work support the economy, their households, and communities in rural and coastal regions. They are said to make up half the fisheries workforce, yet their work goes unrecognized in most official Read more about Latest special issue of Gender, Technology & Development examines new learnings on women and fisheries[…]