Advancing Gender in The Environment: Gender in Fisheries—A Sea of Opportunities
Publisher: IUCN and USAID
Author(s): Jackelline Siles (IUCN), Maria Prebble (IUCN), Jamie Wen (IUCN), Corinne Hart (USAID), and Heidi Schuttenberg (USAID)
Date: 2019
Topics: Assessment, Gender, Livelihoods, Renewable Resources
Sustainable fisheries are vital for achieving food security, alleviating poverty, and increasing economic growth around the world. In coastal countries, seafood accounts for up to 70% of protein intake and is an essential source of vitamins, fats, and minerals. At the global level, more than 40 million people are employed as fishers, with an estimated 90% operating at the small-scale.Wild-caught fisheries production reached 90.9 million tons in 2016, and approximately 30% of the world’s marine fisheries are over-fished. Understanding that the fisheries sector offers a vital pathway for development, numerous development agencies and partners, including USAID, work to promote sustainable wildcaught fisheries and conserve marine biodiversity around the world.
Women play a substantial role in the sector, making up nearly half of the overall fisheries sector workforce. Present throughout the value chain, women are found in harvesting, processing, marketing, trading, and leadership roles. However, persistent gender inequalities prevent women from fully participating in economic opportunities and decision making, ultimately restricting the potential of the sector. Additionally, a limited understanding of women’s unique roles and contributions can result in a lack of recognition of their needs and interests in policies and programs, therefore affecting sustainable development outcomes.