Abstract
The socio-economics of the households in Wellaweediya fishing village in Negombo, Sri Lanka were studied in relation to women involvement in fisheries. No women in the village were engaged in pre-harvest activities and catching fish. Of the women involved in fisheries, about 50% were involved in fish processing activities such as gutting, salting and sun-drying. Those who were involved in gutting of fish earned about Rs. 300.00 for working for 6 hours per day while those who were engaged in salting and sun-drying were paid only Rs. 200.00 for working for about 12 hours per day. About 31% were involved in marketing the catch. By working for about 3½ hours per day, they earned Rs. 200.00 - 700.00. About 13% were involved in removing fish from small meshed gill nets and they were paid about Rs. 100.00 for working for 2 hours per day. The balance 6% were involved in collecting fish in to transportation baskets and for working for about 2 hours they were paid Rs. 100.00 if the catch was good and Rs. 50.00 if the catch was poor. The women labour of those involved in salting and drying and collecting fish into transportation baskets were found to be exploited with gender discrimination. The mean monthly income of the households where women were involved in fisheries was about Rs. 9350.00, which was about twice of the income of the households where women were not involved in fisheries. Most of the women involved in fisheries could not write and/or read and spent a more traditional way of life. Husbands of most of them were regular consumers of liquor. These women have not changed their gender based household division of labour and carried out activities such as cooking, washing, taking care of children etc. DOI: 10.4038/sljas.v14i0.2199 Sri Lanka J. Aquat. Sci. 14 (2009): 45-57
Highlights
Women are engaged in wide variety of activities in fisheries throughout the world (ICSF 2009)
Women in the fishing community studied are not involved in such activities
Women carry out pre-harvest activities such as net mending and net making in many artisanal fisheries throughout world (FAO 2009)
Summary
Women are engaged in wide variety of activities in fisheries throughout the world (ICSF 2009). These include pre- and post-harvest activities as well as actively catching fish. Most of the time they use small implements wading and gleaning the shores and lagoons for shellfish and sea weeds (FAO 2009). Sometimes they serve as crew members and own fishing vessels (Williams et al 2002, Saison et al 2002, EC 2003, Viravongsa 2004). The post-harvest activities that women are involved include processing the catch and marketing it (EC 2003, FAO 2009). Women vendors are capable of maintaining secured buyers and establishing marketing networks (FAO 2009)
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