By Vishakha Gupta (vishakhagupta21@gmail.com), Independent Researcher, New Delhi, India
The Pacific Community’s (SPC) Women in Fisheries Information Bulletin offers a wealth of resources for anyone supporting small-scale fisheries globally, with a particular focus on the Pacific and Global South. The bulletin, now celebrating its 40th edition with its September issue, is accessible through the SPC website under the “Resources” section of the “Newsletter and Information Bulletins” archive. The bulletin is published biannually in March and September, free to access, and readers can subscribe for updates to ensure they receive each new edition promptly.
Produced by SPC’s Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine Ecosystems Division, the bulletin is made possible through support from the Australian Government, the EU, and the New Zealand Aid Programme. Edited by Sangeeta Mangubhai, each issue begins with an editor’s note summarizing the articles and contributors featured in that edition. The bulletin spans a broad array of thematic areas related to women and gender in fisheries. Topics include women’s roles across fisheries; livelihood enhancements; training and capacity building; traditional knowledge; co-management and governance of small-scale fisheries (SSF); women’s collectivization efforts; gender mainstreaming; gender-based violence in the sector; conservation and climate resilience; food security; and governmental initiatives aimed at supporting women in fisheries.
Recent editions have spotlighted the diverse roles women play in various fisheries and the challenges they face, along with innovative ways they are overcoming these hurdles. For instance, articles highlight Fiji’s octopus harvesters and moci (small brackish shrimp) fishers learning improved processing techniques, as well as sea urchin harvesters in Navakavu benefiting from the provision of ice boxes to enhance their catch’s quality. Collectivization also features prominently, with insights into the Fiji National Women in Fisheries Forum and women’s involvement in the Lakeba Fishers Cooperative.
Projects supporting women’s livelihoods in fisheries are frequently explored, with developmental organizations and government initiatives playing critical roles. Highlights include strengthening women’s roles in Fiji’s fisheries value chains, improving seafood safety in Kiritimati, and social enhancements in Fiji’s tuna longline industry. A noteworthy initiative by the Fiji Women in Fisheries Forum involved organizing a women fishers’ market day in October 2022, where fishers displayed their catch and connected with markets.
Traditional knowledge, often safeguarded by women, is another recurring theme. These articles emphasize how integrating women’s expertise into co-management and governance of SSF enhances sustainability, despite the constraints of restrictive gender norms. Examples include Fiji, Timor-Leste, Kiribati, the Lau Islands, and Tabonibara.
Gender mainstreaming efforts are also well-documented, covering the application of tools like the Social Responsibility Assessment to Fiji’s domestic longline fishery, equity initiatives in SSF management across the Pacific Islands, and strategies to advance gender equality through partnerships with developmental organizations. Other contributions explore gender-based violence, such as the exploitation of men on foreign trawlers and women’s forced participation in exploitative fish-for-sex transactions in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Additionally, the bulletin covers conservation efforts, climate resilience, and the critical role of SSF in ensuring food and nutrition security. Articles highlight how fisher communities are adapting to climate challenges and preserving marine habitats.
Overall, the SPC Women in Fisheries Information Bulletin is an invaluable resource. Each edition offers a compelling mix of articles, profiles of extraordinary women in fisheries, and insightful discussions on advancing gender equity and sustainability in this vital sector.
Women in Fisheries information bulletin
https://fame.spc.int/publications/bulletins/women-in-fisheries
