Women and fisheries: Opening access in the Marshall Islands Case Study Click on the following links for further information about this case study: Teacher's Notes Student Activities Introduction The Marshall Islands consist of 1,225 islands spread over nearly 1.25 million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean. The environment offers rich potential for the development of a fisheries industry, although a number of factors have significantly limited that development. Long distances between islands and high transport and communications costs have proven a barrier; lack of finance has resulted in a shortage of equipment, training and jobs; selected areas have been over-harvested; and pollution is increasing, particularly in inner reef areas. Yet, some traditional values and attitudes associated with the roles of women in fisheries activities have also restrained development, not only in the fisheries industry, but also of women's social, political and economic development. Traditional role of women The traditional role of Marshallese women is very clearly defined. She is the foundation of the family, responsible for the welfare of its members. Her duties include child care, food preparation, and household chores. In addition, she has obligations to community groups such as the church. As a member of a matrilineal society, her responsibilities include being the owner of family land and preserving ties that bind family lineage. However, the role of Marshallese women outside the traditional confines is not so clearly defined. Traditionally, women have also worked in fisheries activities, but only in certain roles, as a 1997 survey (below) revealed. 1997 survey on women and fisheries Women have worked mainly in lagoon and inner reef areas collecting crustaceans and shellfish. This is because these areas are near the women's homes, meaning they will not be away for long. Because collection is in shallow water, women are often able to, and expected to, take their children with them, sometimes carrying them on their backs whilst working. They also often take the children to market. Such situations make it difficult for women to travel far or easily. Women usually process their collection, and often what the men catch, in their homes. This includes gutting, scaling, washing or de-shelling, then boiling, frying, barbecuing, drying, salting or smoking. Many women also make shell jewelry or artwork. The above products are usually sold at low prices or traded with others at local markets. Often the women must sell through a middle-man who takes a share of profits. On remote islands, high transport costs and cultural expectations discourage women from attempting to sell their products elsewhere. There have been few information and training schemes for women in traditional fishery and marketing activities. There has been little financial and technical support to improve and distribute equipment traditionally used by women, and little funding of their work through bank loans. It is not considered culturally acceptable for women to perform deeper water or larger scale activities such as diving, netting, trapping, fishing with fishing lines or long-lining. It is believed that if a woman boards a boat or goes near men before or while fishing, there will be bad luck, usually a poor catch. These situations, values and attitudes have prevented women's activities and promoted stereotypes discouraging women to more actively participate in the fisheries industry. Women in Fisheries Development Project The Women in Fisheries Development (WFD) Project, supported by the Australian Government's overseas aid program through the Secretariat of the Pacific Community aims to promote an increased involvement of women from coastal fishing communities in regional and national fisheries development activities, and enhance their income generation opportunities, while at the same time, developing the fisheries industry. Some of the activities underway or planned by the Marshall Islands Government and community groups include: running public awareness campaigns on the benefits of enabling women to participate more freely in fisheries activities encouraging education schemes, including an annual week of activities in schools for 'fisheries events' such as poster contests and guest speakers; teaching environmental studies and providing scientific explanations for phenomena such as poor catches; and, encouraging schools and youth groups to research the traditional and new fisheries activities of women training women in new fisheries activities, and formally in traditional activities, such as quality-control, hygiene, nutrition, preservation and processing. Training in new methods of shell-craft and marketing will also be provided with the aim of boosting women's business success developing farms in women's traditional activities and locations, providing the necessary equipment and assisting them to set up small businesses. Women's involvement in aquaculture projects such as pearl-oyster, clam, shrimp, seaweed, sea-cucumber and sponge farms is also encouraged. These farms can take the pressure off areas that are over-harvested - helping the environment - while at the same time, helping to improve women's income Marshallese women play an important role in the Island's fishing industry.   setting up markets to handle the larger and more diverse produce of women, with women having larger decision-making and management roles and receiving greater income providing more women with loans to support their business activities researching and sharing what is happening in fisheries worldwide improving and reducing the costs of transport and communications between the Marshall Islands and other destinations. This will offer a number of benefits to the Islanders. The WFD Project publishes regular newsletters on fisheries activities for men and women. It has also published a training manual and a seafood-nutrition book. All are available in the Marshall Islands and much is reported at http://www.spc.org.nc/coastfish. However, the project's best news can be found in communities where women are now making more decisions for themselves about fishery activities.   Top © Commonwealth of Australia