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 Background Pacific Island countries face unique constraints to development such as physical remoteness, modest natural resource endowments, constrained export markets, limited internal administrative capacities and a need to broaden the skills base both nationally and regionally. For these reasons, and due to our proximity to these nations, Australia makes a major contribution to Pacific countries, seeking principally to provide better governance, stronger economic growth, greater administrative capacity, better service delivery and improved environmental integrity. The following case study is an example of improving women's access to social, economic and political development, which benefits not only women, but also their families, communities and the wider Marshall Islands society and the environment. The Marshall Islands consist of 1,225 islands grouped together as 29 atolls, five low islands and 870 reefs in the Pacific Ocean. Although the land area totals only 112 square kilometres, the islands are spread over nearly 1.25 million square kilometres. Consequently, most development activities experience the difficulties and high costs of long-distance transport and communications. This is true for activities that would seem well-suited to the Marshall Islands' environment - fisheries. Yet, numerous factors have withheld the development of the islands' fisheries, including lack of finance, over-harvesting, pollution and, as this case study investigates, some traditional values and attitudes associated with the roles of women. Traditional role of Marshallese 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 clearly defined. Traditionally, women have been closely associated with fishing activities, but there have long been limitations on the nature and extent of their work 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 has not necessarily been because women are incapable of working elsewhere, but mainly because such areas are near their homes, meaning they will not be away for long. Because collection is in shallow water, women are 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 restrict women's mobility and activity. 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. There are few encouragements for women to undertake any of these activities beyond the home. The above produce is 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 and on a larger scale. 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. Collectively, these situations, values and attitudes have restricted women's activities while promoting stereotypes that 'real fishing' and associated activities are for men. 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 increase 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 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 extends across the Pacific Ocean and publishes regular newsletters on sustainable and profitable fisheries activities for men and women. It has also published a training manual and a seafood-nutrition book. However, the project's best news can be found in the communities where women are now beginning to make more decisions for themselves about fishery activities. Top © Commonwealth of Australia