We are proud to announce that Dr. Meryl J. Williams has been awarded the GAFS 2025 Inaugural Distinguished Service Award (DSA) in recognition of her unwavering dedication to raising the profile of women in fisheries and championing gender equality as a fundamental issue in fisheries and aquaculture development.
A Champion for Gender Equality
Dr. Williams stands as a formidable champion in international fisheries policy, having fought tirelessly for over 40 years to embed a gender perspective into fisheries, aquaculture, aquatic resource conservation, and agricultural research and development. Her relentless dedication has successfully integrated gender equality considerations into the fabric of fisheries and aquaculture discussions, literature, and policy.
She has been a driving force in placing gender issues squarely on the fisheries economics agenda through her influential roles in the Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries Section of the Asian Fisheries Society, the former Genderaquafish network, and numerous international non-governmental organizations, as well as at the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization's Committee on Fisheries (COFI).
Dr. Williams' humble demeanor belies the significant impact she has made in advancing gender equality in fisheries and aquaculture. Her unwavering commitment has amplified the voices of millions of fisherwomen worldwide, illuminating their experiences, sparking crucial debates, and driving transformative change across the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
Photo Right: Meryl Williams, Choo Poh Sze (Malaysia, organiser of early WIF/GAF events, creator of the Genderaquafish email group, writer and editor on GAF) and Than Thi Hien (Vietnam) at World Women's Congress, Ottowa, July 2011.
Recent Recognition
In July 2024, Dr. Williams was rightfully honored with two distinguished awards:
- The IIFET Distinguished Service Award, celebrating her remarkable achievements and substantial impact on the global fisheries community, including her pioneering work incorporating economics into global tuna fisheries conservation and management
- The Margarita Lizárraga Medal (2022-2023), presented during the opening of COFI's 36th Session at FAO headquarters in Rome, recognizing her vital role in enhancing the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
Photo Right: Meryl Williams, delivering a plenary address at 9th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum, April 2011, Shanghai
Continuing Impact
Currently, Dr. Williams is spearheading projects that tackle gender disparities in fisheries economics research and improve the availability of sex- and gender-disaggregated data in the field. She is the Inaugural Chair of the Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries Section of the Asian Fisheries Society and Vice Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation.
Photo Right: GAF5 group photo, Lucknow, Nov 2014
Distinguished Career
An interdisciplinary researcher with a PhD in Zoology and Masters in Mathematical Statistics, Dr. Williams served as Director-General of the WorldFish Centre from 1994 to 2004, where she concentrated on eradicating poverty, improving people's nutrition, and reducing pressure on the environment. Through her career spanning 40 years, she has published over 150 research papers, technical reports, conference proceedings and books, and established Genderaquafish.org, a key global website on gender in aquaculture and fisheries.
She has long been committed to mentoring the younger generation of practitioners in the field and cultivating the next generation of policy makers, having created opportunities and associated funding for early career professionals to publish their research, attend conferences, and advance their careers—and has been especially supportive of women from developing countries.
Photo right: Meryl Williams speaking on receiving GAFS DSA, GAF9, Oct, 2025