Millions of women in the fisheries sector are being overlooked as new technologies emerge to address climate change and economic challenges. A recent study explores this global issue and offers strategies for improvement in policy, research, and practical applications.
Millions of women in the fisheries sector are being overlooked as new technologies emerge to address climate change and economic challenges.
Research spearheaded by the University of East Anglia (UEA) focuses on post-harvest fisheries and aquaculture, where women make up half of the workforce. Despite their vital roles, women’s contributions often go unrecognized, and they frequently work without pay or for low wages, as their labor is viewed merely as an extension of household duties.
The study, titled ‘A systematic review of the impact of post-harvest aquatic food processing technology on gender equality and social justice,’ is published today in Nature Food.
Fisheries and aquaculture serve as essential sources of income, food, and nutrition for many of the poorest communities globally, directly aiding around 67 million people and indirectly benefiting about 492 million. They are responsible for supplying approximately 17 percent of the animal protein consumed by humans, yet over a third of the global fisheries and aquaculture catch is wasted or lost.
Prof. Nitya Rao, UEA Professor of Gender & Development and Director of the Norwich Institute for Sustainable Development, leads the study. She commented, “Given the vast number of individuals, especially women, involved in post-harvest activities worldwide, this review aimed to understand better how processing technologies and advancements affect those working in this sector and how these changes impact labor dynamics, resources, power, and decision-making.”
“With climate change and other economic challenges, we are seeing fast progress in post-harvest technologies designed to boost productivity, minimize loss, and maintain quality. However, if we do not tackle the social justice aspects of these advancements, we risk worsening existing inequalities.”
Women face disadvantages in both traditional and modern technologies, particularly regarding their control over resources. They often lack access to social protection benefits such as minimum wages, health insurance, or transportation, due to their lower positions in the labor hierarchy.
As businesses grow and incorporate more expensive technologies, women often report feeling less empowered and experiencing poorer equity outcomes due to individual factors such as education, social norms, and care responsibilities.
In large-scale, factory environments that utilize advanced technologies, women and migrant workers are generally in lower-status, temporary roles that are culturally regarded as ‘women’s work’; they face gender pay disparities, limited access to worker rights and management positions, and increased exposure to health risks. Strict labor divisions, reinforced by social norms, persist.
While the power dynamics in factory settings are more inequitable, traditional contexts are not necessarily better, despite them providing more flexibility. Although these traditional methods may be less efficient, they often afford women greater autonomy. This presents a dilemma between improved productivity and income versus gender equality concerning women’s control over resources and decision-making.
Dr. Julie Bremner from the UK Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, and co-author of the paper, stated, “Aquatic foods are a crucial part of our global food system, especially for nations dependent on seafood, and the demand for these products is expected to rise. The sustainability of these foods depends not only on their environmental and economic impacts but also on their social equity implications.”
“Our review indicates that while there is progress to be made regarding equity, numerous opportunities exist that should be seized.”
The review proposes several recommendations for policy, research, and practice:
- Fisheries policymaking should encompass the entire aquatic food system, going further than capture fisheries and aquaculture to include post-harvest processing, storage, and consumption.
- There is a need for more thorough and comparative research to understand how various technologies impact different demographics, including women and men, the young and elderly, migrants, and the non-migrant populations, while also considering intersectionality.
- The voices of diverse groups, especially women and migrant workers, should be integral to policymaking and investment decisions regarding post-harvest processes at local, national, and global levels during the development and implementation of new technologies.
The research team, which included additional colleagues from UEA and the Norwich Institute for Sustainable Development, reviewed 42 studies spanning 55 locations across countries such as India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, the Philippines, Japan, Canada, the USA, Mexico, Brazil, Norway, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Zambia.
‘A systematic review of the impact of post-harvest aquatic food processing technology on gender equality and social justice’ is set to be published on 27 August 2024 in Nature Food.
