Why Look at Fisheries through a Gender Lens?

Abstract

Fisheries have long been weak on a gender perspective, focusing mainly on the fish stocks and fish production conducted predominately by men. In terms of gender focus, aquaculture has fared only slightly better. Fortunately the tide of attention to women and, more generally, gender in fisheries and aquaculture is turning, due partly to the Asian Fisheries Society symposia that commenced in 1998. The second Global Symposium on Gender and Fisheries, held on 21November 2007 in Kochi, India, was the latest in that series. To set the scene for the selection of symposium papers that follow, I offer the perspective that looking at fisheries and aquaculture through the gender lens ^ that is, with deliberate focus on gender, and age differentiation of roles, responsibilities, access and opportunities ^ makes sense because it provides a better view of the whole industry and social context. As with any good lens, the picture through the gender lens is more complete, better focused and provides the basis for understanding issues and suggesting more appropriate action. The gender lens also reinforces the importance of an integrated and complete supply chain approach to fisheries, a vital factor for a sector that produces a heavily traded commodity. Without the gender lens, fisheries and aquaculture studies and actions tend to value only fish production and fish stocks, and the knowledge and roles directly linked to these. Three case studies, chosen because some suitable gender-based information exists, illustrate the importance of using a ‘gender lens’. First, to illustrate a remote society surprisingly strongly affected by global links, I describe fisheries in the Republic of Palau. Second, to look at the impact of resource degradation on fishing communities, I have chosen the east coast peninsular Malaysia fisheries. And, third, to examine a recent and dramatic fisheries issue, I describe the case of HIV/AIDS in Uganda fishing communities. From these three cases, the view through the gender lens provides the clearer and better focused picture.