Women and gender equality through the entire fish value chain

The third episode highlights the work of TBTI members who are looking at the important role that women play in fisheries throughout the value chain. Ratana Chuenpagdee, TBTI Global Foundation, ThailandKatia Frangoudes, University of Brest, FranceAnas Shoebullah Khan, The University of Winnipeg, Dried Fish Matters project, CanadaNova Montilla Almine, Memorial University / TBTI Global, CanadaMarch 8th is International Women’s Day, and for the month of March, or perhaps the whole year, or even better – everyday, we could reflect on the important role that women play in fisheries throughout the value chain, recognizing that more needs to be done to address gender equality.As called for in the SSF Guidelines, concerted efforts are required to address gender equality. “All parties should recognize that achieving gender equality requires concerted efforts by all and that gender mainstreaming should be an integral part of all small-scale fisheries development strategies” (SSF Guidelines , FAO 2015).This is what TBTI has been trying to do with the work of Prof. Katia Frangoudes University of Brest, who leads the research cluster on ‘Women and Gender.’  With Prof. Siri Siri Gerrard, and several other colleagues, she has put together two publication volumes focusing on women in fisheries, arguing for gender equality in access to quota, decision-making, and in health and safety workplace.While some women participate in fishing and shellfish gathering, the majority of women involving in fisheries are in post-harvest sector. They take part in fish processing, marketing and trade of the fish. They are, in effect, the most important contributors to the dried fish economy. We are learning more about this through the work of the Dried Fish Matters project, which has been instrumental in making visible the role of women in the processing sector, highlighting the need to do better at protecting the rights of women (and children) involved in dried fish, through legal and policy framework and improvement of post-harvest and market infrastructure. We are learning about this with the work of early career researchers, Anas Shoebullah Khan, University of Winnipeg, in India, and Nova Almine, Memorial University, in Thailand.Like the work of women in fisheries that does not end, the number of researchers and practitioners interested in women and gender issues in fisheries keep growing. Here’s an upcoming opportunity to learn more about this and contribute to the discussion about gender equality and justice: https://gafconference.org/. The conference will be held in Thailand in October this year.