In the history of fisheries in the Pacific region, women’s activities are either overlooked as domestic work or strictly confined to those requiring low-technology such as basic gleaning on reef or coastal shallow habitats. Over time, with the influence of western traditions including the drive towards monetization and the declining trend in coastal and marine resources, more women now actively participate in fishing activities on a part-time or full-time basis. As a consequence, traditional barriers between the genders continually erode among most societies in the region. This review highlights some aspects of this shift from subsistence to artisanal commercial fishing among women in the Pacific region and its consequences with specific references to Kiribati and Fiji.