The detrimental effects of gender inequality are also visible in the fishing sector. The general consensus that fishing is a “man’s job” results in the number of fisherwomen in our seas and inland waters to be overlooked, as well as disregarding their social and economic problems. Gender inequality in the professional world is an important reason for not only female poverty but family-wide poverty. Fisherwomen are the foundation of fisher families, and they are the group most affected by habitat damage and biodiversity loss caused by illegal fishing and overfishing.
While collaborating with small-scale shore fishers in its efforts to conserve marine biodiversity, the MCS regards the problems faced by shore fishers regardless of gender as one of its areas of focus. To this end, various projects were put into place at Gökova Bay, Datça-Bozburun Peninsula, and Lake Beyşehir in order to find solutions to problems faced by fisherwomen, to increase awareness regarding unionising and professional knowledge, and to increase public visibility of fisherwomen. Additionally, 461 fishery cooperatives were interviewed across Turkey to determine the number and distribution of fisherwomen, and 3070 fisherwomen were found to be working at sea and on inland waters. This survey was conducted in collaboration with the Central Association of Fishery Cooperatives, and it constitutes the first step towards the establishment of a Fisherwomen’s Commission, which can evaluate the needs and problems of fisherwomen through an interdisciplinary lens and determine a national roadmap.
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