Women and fisheries: Contribution to food security and local economies

Abstract

The substantial role of women in fisheries is overlooked in management and policy. Fortunately, it is gaining recognition despite a lack of quantitative data describing the scale of participation and contribution. This work summarizes existing knowledge on women's participation in marine fisheries globally, and estimates their contribution in the Pacific. While women's role varies between geographic regions, in the Pacific, women account for 56% of annual small-scale catches, and resulting in an economic impact of 363 million USD (total revenue: 110 million USD). Recognizing and quantifying the role of women in fisheries has profound implications for management, poverty alleviation and development policy. ► Women contribute substantially to fisheries economies worldwide. ► The role of women in fisheries is under-estimated and under-valued. ► Over half of small-scale catches in the Pacific region are taken by women. ► Improved gender equality in fisheries linked to poverty reduction and development.