Gender roles in the fisheries of North Aral Sea in Kazakhstan

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to contribute to the existing research on the Aral Sea from a gender perspective, with a specific focus on women's roles in the fishery sector.The methodology employed in this study involved the use of a semi-structured in-depth interview instrument, which was developed to document the role of women in the fisheries value chain, as well as the challenges and opportunities they face.Originality / value of the research. This article aims to fill the gap in the lack of recognition of women's roles in fisheries in Kazakhstan and start a conversation about gender considerations in the ecologically and economically vulnerable coastal community of Kazakhstan.Findings. The study's findings highlight the prevalent gender roles in the fishery sector in the research area, where men are primarily responsible for catching fish, while women process and add value to it, both at home and in processing plants. However, despite their significant presence in the fish processing industry, women lack representation in fisheries associations. The study also identified pikeperch as a key export-oriented fish and highlighted the potential for women to contribute to farmed fish production. Finally, the study identified women's interest in skills training, particularly in marketing and sales, and recommended that stakeholders in the fishery sector jointly design and organize training programs to facilitate women's access to these skills.