Table 1.
Reported socio-cultural, environmental, and economic impacts related to women’s participation- or lack of – in SSF management processes
| Scale | Category | Subcategory | Example | Corresponding quote & reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social-ecological system | Socio-cultural | Change in the understanding of the gender dynamics within the SSFa SESb (Comprehensiveness) | Gendered perspectives in SSF management in Brazilian Amazonia highlight differences between fishermen and fisherwomen’s practices, hence providing a comprehensive view for fish stock assessments | “The study results also confirmed our hypothesis that differences between fishermen and fisherwomen in species composition of catches were influenced by the types of gear used and fishing sites explored.” (Zacarkim et al. 2015, p. 415) |
|
Change in the impact of management decisions on women (Gendered management impact) |
Women’s exclusion from the designation process of a marine closure in the Solomon Islands has negative social consequences on their daily lives | “Women were more constrained in their fishing activities because a marine closure was located where mainly women used to fish. Our study highlights the importance of paying attention to women’s needs and actions in the governance of the fishery.” (Rohe et al. 2018, p.155) | ||
|
Change in the recognition of gendered ecological knowledge (Gendered ecological knowledge) |
The deep-rooted knowledge of fisherwomen on salmon distribution and abundance can guide the management of salmon fisheries in Alaska | “The experience and knowledge of these women can inform fishery managers of various aspects of environmental change. For example, their knowledge of change in salmon distribution and abundance over the years, can be used to triangulate data used by managers for decision making regarding the resource.” (Lavoie et al. 2019, p.336) | ||
|
Change in the compliance to management measures (Compliance) |
The engagement of women’s and men’s groups contribute to fostering local support and acceptance to a fishery management plan in Samoa | “Regardless of legislation or enforcement, the responsible management of marine resources will only be achieved when fishing communities themselves see it as their responsibility. Accordingly, the strategy focused on mobilizing each community through direct contact with key village groups. These included women’s groups and untitled men’s groups to ensure the widest community participation and eventual ownership of the village fisheries.” (King & Faasili 1999, p.2) | ||
|
Change in the diversity of perspectives for SSF management (Diverse perspectives) |
Women’s participation in SSF management leadership positions brings new views and skills that favour the development of co-management in the Chile’s Biobio region | “Some of them [fishermen] mentioned that women’s management skills when assuming a leadership position was favored: “In a short time, she has gotten two projects that never happened before... women have another way of thinking (fisherman member #9).” (Franco-Melendez et al. 2021, p.14) | ||
| Environmental | Change in the long-term use of fisheries resources (Sustainable management) | The participation of Galician women in the management of shellfish in Spain allows to sustain shellfish resources over the long term |
“Some interviewees highlighted the particular management logic of the shell fisherwomen, in which they take a systemic view of resource Management.” (Fadigas 2017, p.565) |
|
|
Change in human pressure on local ecosystems (Ecological pressure) |
The exclusion of Fijian fisherwomen from fisheries management decisions raises concerns about the risk of increasing ecological pressure on coastal resources | “As many more women enter commercial markets, there is a growing concern that women may be harvesting and selling undersized juvenile fish from these habitats, affecting the sustainability of some of the common fisheries.” (Thomas et al. 2021, p.7) | ||
| Community | Socio-cultural | Change in food security (Food security) | The important role of fisherwomen for providing fresh fish to their households has implications for fishery management in the Maldives | “This suggests that women’s involvement in small-scale reef fisheries, while not necessarily direct, might still be important to consider especially from the point of view of island food systems and the processes that contribute to the nutritional health of communities.” (Yadav et al. 2021 p.3) |
|
Change in adaptive capacity (Adaptive capacity) |
Women’s roles in small-scale fishing communities in Peru and Japan contribute to improve the capacity of their community to adapt to external chocks | “In the two cases reported here, women are taking responsibilities and applying innovative activities to adapt to disturbances in the fishery system.” (Delaney et al. 2019, p.292) | ||
|
Change in the social attributes of the community (Community social attributes) |
Women’s action through self-help groups favours solidarity within small-scale fishing communities in Kerala, India | “The empowerment of women through SHGs leads to benefit not only the individual women and women groups, but also the family and community as a whole through collective action and solidarity.” (Jeeva & Gopal 2021, p.175) | ||
|
Change in the transmission of traditional knowledge (Cultural heritage) |
The participation of native women in a Marine Extractive Reserve in Brazil has the potential for preserving the traditional knowledge of their community |
“Their participation [of women] in the management is expected to contribute rules for political strengthening and income production, thus keeping the traditional knowledge and maintaining the native population in the area.” (Di Ciommo 2007, p.65–66) |
||
| Economic |
Change in community income (Community income) |
Women’s participation in SSF management through fishing permits in Isla Arena, Mexico, brings more revenue for their households | “(…)an aspect that is cross-sectional in these arrangements is financial motivation, since having the permits is something that strengthens the reception of economic resources by the families.” (Uc-Espadas et al. 2017, p.392) | |
| Individual | Socio-cultural |
Change in well-being (Well-being) |
Women’s engagement in the management of their local fisheries resources in Chile’s Biobio region enhances their feelings of tranquillity and security | “Several fisherwomen emphasised the feelings of tranquillity and the security of having something of “their own” that they could nurture.” (Gallardo-Fernandez & Saunders 2018, p.184) |
|
Change in capacity building (Capacity building) |
Fisherwomen who are part of a union in Chile’s Biobio region learn new skills in the process of managing their local fisheries resources | “We learned to work together… in group; because this work was always done individually; we learned to manage; we learned to find nexus networks, in which to support us to continue the struggle.” (Gallardo-Fernandez & Saunders 2018, p.184) | ||
|
Change in women’s empowerment (Empowerment) |
Women’s participation in a Costa Rican SSF cooperative gives them personal confidence | “ (…) opportunities have opened up for some of the women fishing leaders to participate in activities, conferences and seminars that broaden their horizons and build their self-esteem.”(Rivera et al. 2017, p.13) | ||
|
Change in gender roles (Gender roles) |
Women’s participation in the co-management of arapaima fisheries in Brazilian Amazonia contributes to change gender dynamics and alter traditional gender roles | “They [Women] also pointed out the opportunity of having both genders working together, and of women being able to take part in an activity that used to be male-dominated.” (Freitas et al. 2020, p.6) | ||
|
Change in women’s leisure time (Women’s leisure time) |
The transference of fishing permits from men to women in Isla Arena, Mexico, is associated with an additional workload that reduces women’s free time | “We found testimonies such as the following where the woman permit holder expressed that this condition represents a load of tasks for women, particularly because of the paperwork and trips they have to make” (Uc-Espadas et al. 2017, p.394) | ||
| Economic |
Change in women’s income (Women’s income) |
Women’s participation in the co-management of arapaima fisheries in Brazilian Amazonia leads to an increase in their fishing revenue |
“ (…) woman living in a community with arapaima co-management would have a mean probability of 77% of earning money from fisheries, compared to only 8% for a woman living in a community without arapaima co-management.” (Freitas et al. 2020, p.5) |
aSmall-scale fisheries (SSF)
bSocial-ecological system (SES)