Women’s contribution to aquaculture’s regional development: a literature review

Abstract

ABSTRACT Women’s participation is crucial in the development of aquaculture, yet their involvement in the sector is minimal. This literature review aims to analyze the role women play in aquaculture development through an analysis of (I) gender issues confronted by women, (II) the degree of women’s participation and outcomes, and (III) the modes of improving women’s participation and gender equality in the sector. We reviewed a total of 27 peer-reviewed articles between 2009 and 2019 explicitly focused on women in aquaculture. We find that while women generally have a positive attitude toward aquaculture, gender disparity is the main reason impeding women’s participation in the sector. Nevertheless, women are highly involved in many areas of the value chain, from production, administration and academia. Our review shows that women’s involvement within the sector is highly impactful to the elimination of severe socio-economic issues such as poverty, malnutrition and food insecurity. Most notably, efforts have been taken by several regional organizations to increase the value and participation of women in the sector through women’s empowerment and gender equality programs. We recommend that barriers of “traditional” gender role perception in the sector need to change, and the provision of opportunities for women to claim roles or resources in the sector demands improvement. We also conclude that there is a requirement for more knowledge about the specifics and value of women in aquaculture.