10:45 AM - 11:00 AM
[O07-07] Does a Fisher’s Gender Matter for the Ocean?— Investigating the Relationship Between Gender and the Sustainability of Local Fisheries —
★Invited Papers
Keywords:Fisheries, Coastal Fisheries, Gender, Sustainability
In recent years, efforts to promote gender equality, ensuring equal responsibilities, rights, and opportunities regardless of gender, have advanced across various industries, including Japan’s fisheries sector. The Basic Fisheries Plan (5th Edition), formulated in 2022, emphasizes supporting a diverse range of individuals—regardless of age, gender, or nationality—who contribute to local fisheries. Various initiatives have encouraged women's participation in Japanese coastal fisheries, such as seafood product development, entrepreneurial support, and mechanization of fishing operations. However, as gender-focused initiatives progress, a key question arises: How does increasing gender diversity among fishers impact the use and management of marine resources?
This study examines the impact of collaboration among different gender groups in fisheries through five case studies across Japan: (1) husband-and-wife fishing operations in the Amaha Fisheries Cooperative (Chiba Prefecture); (2) the "One-Year Fisher" program at Tenyo-maru Co., Ltd. (Nagasaki Prefecture), which promotes women’s entry into purse seine fishing; (3) resource management of Akamoku seaweed based on women’s knowledge at the Hibikinada Fisheries Cooperative (Fukuoka Prefecture); (4) the women-led seafood restaurant Kaachan no Mise at the Oarai Fisheries Cooperative (Ibaraki Prefecture); and (5) the appointment of a female cooperative president at the Shinminato Fisheries Cooperative (Toyama Prefecture).
Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders revealed that collaboration among different gender groups contributes to multiple dimensions of sustainability. Socially, it addresses workforce shortages and creates local employment. Economically, it diversifies resource utilization and enhances the value of local catch. Environmentally, the inclusion of women has been associated with increased compliance with fishing bans, partly due to safety considerations, and has contributed to the application of women’s knowledge in adaptive resource management. People of different gender groups often acquire distinct knowledge, skills, and networks based on their lived experiences. Expanding gender diversity—not only among fishers those engaged in capture fisheries on the sea, but also among a broader range of fisheries-related professionals—facilitates the integration of diverse expertise, thereby strengthening the sustainability of local fisheries. Given its potential to improve the sustainable use of marine resources, gender diversity in fisheries may benefit not only people but also the ocean itself.
Moving forward, research should explore the engagement of broader gender groups and examine challenges arising from other attributes such as age, nationality, background, family structure, and marital status.
This study examines the impact of collaboration among different gender groups in fisheries through five case studies across Japan: (1) husband-and-wife fishing operations in the Amaha Fisheries Cooperative (Chiba Prefecture); (2) the "One-Year Fisher" program at Tenyo-maru Co., Ltd. (Nagasaki Prefecture), which promotes women’s entry into purse seine fishing; (3) resource management of Akamoku seaweed based on women’s knowledge at the Hibikinada Fisheries Cooperative (Fukuoka Prefecture); (4) the women-led seafood restaurant Kaachan no Mise at the Oarai Fisheries Cooperative (Ibaraki Prefecture); and (5) the appointment of a female cooperative president at the Shinminato Fisheries Cooperative (Toyama Prefecture).
Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders revealed that collaboration among different gender groups contributes to multiple dimensions of sustainability. Socially, it addresses workforce shortages and creates local employment. Economically, it diversifies resource utilization and enhances the value of local catch. Environmentally, the inclusion of women has been associated with increased compliance with fishing bans, partly due to safety considerations, and has contributed to the application of women’s knowledge in adaptive resource management. People of different gender groups often acquire distinct knowledge, skills, and networks based on their lived experiences. Expanding gender diversity—not only among fishers those engaged in capture fisheries on the sea, but also among a broader range of fisheries-related professionals—facilitates the integration of diverse expertise, thereby strengthening the sustainability of local fisheries. Given its potential to improve the sustainable use of marine resources, gender diversity in fisheries may benefit not only people but also the ocean itself.
Moving forward, research should explore the engagement of broader gender groups and examine challenges arising from other attributes such as age, nationality, background, family structure, and marital status.