Fisherwomen’s Movement in Europe

achievements and challenges

Cornelie Quist

ICSF GB Brazil 3 - 8 July 2006Emerging Concerns of Fishing Communities:

Issues of Labour, Trade, Gender, Disaster Preparedness,Biodiversity and Responsible Fisheries

T Since the 1990’s

*Women’s organisations in fisheries and aquaculture created and multiplied in most coastal states of Europe.

* Mostly operate as action groups, associations and networks.

* Networks and federations are formed at the regional, national and trans-national level.

Who ?

Women of fishing communities engaged as collaborative spouses (“wives of fishermen”) in a range of (managerial) activities in the family based enterprise.

Women of fishing communities engaged in artisanal ‘professions’ such as shellfish gathering / farming , fish selling and net mending.

 Why

(autonomous) women’s organisations?  

T

Few cases known of ‘old’ national level fisherwomen’s organisations. Norway:* 1946 Damegruppen Havlimt * 1953 Norges Fiskerlag Kvinnelag (women’s organisation of the

Norwegian Fishermen’s Association) Ireland:* 1960’s Mna Na Mara (national network of harbour based

wives of fishermen’s groups)

‘Old’ fisherwomen’s organisations:

* In support of / part of fishermen’s organisations.

* Engaged in welfare activities aimed at better living conditions of fishing community.

(extension of women’s reproductive role).

‘New’ fisherwomen’s organisations Norway,Sweden, Finland 1953, 1990 (Nordic Network for

Coastal/ Fisher Women)

Spain 1983, 2002 (Assoc. Rosa dos Ventos, Federation AREAL (mariscadoras), Federation Rederas)

Ireland (1970’s),1991 (Association Mna Na Mara)

France 1990, 1998, 2003 (2FM - Federation of Maritime Women)

Netherlands 2000 (VinVis network)

UK 2003 (WIF network UK)

Greece 2003 (Pan-Helenic WIF network)

Portugal 2003 (WIF network Portugal)

Italy 2004 (Association Penelope)

Europe 2006 (AKTEA network)

Why now ?

Why new?

Nature of the ‘new’ fisherwomen’s organisations

varies depending of the reality of the fisheries

industry and the historical context of each country/region

(motives see next).

common motives

that pushed women to organize themselves and lay the basis of the current fisherwomen’s movement in

Europe.

T

Failure of European fisheries management, (rapid) crises afflicting the fisheries (around 80 % small scale and family/community based): Women rally to defend the survival of their family and community and their way of life.(awareness raising, lobbying authorities, protest rallies)

Women want to have a say in fishery policy matters (attention for quality of life in fishing communities).

T.

Fisheries development had brought about high technological changes, but kept labour conditions in a backward stage

Women campaign for improved working conditions.(awareness raising, lobbying authorities, protest rallies)

* Safety at sea campaigns* Collective labour agreements* Social security issues (pensions, insurances, income security)

* Access to representation for crew

‘New’ ?

Fisheries development had marginalised women’s role:

New: Women feel the need to organise autonomously as a response to the constraints they experience as a result of the “invisibility” of their role (traditional gender role).

Women press for recognition of role in fisheries.

Women fight for abolishment of gender related discriminatory practices and perceptions and equal opportunities.

(see next).

prevailing traditional

Gender Relations

in (European) fishing communities

Woman’s traditional gender role in fishing communities is confined to private space

Woman’s work in fisheries is considered as extension of domestic (reproductive) activities

- Not seen as “professional”,- Considered of low value, - Seen as supplementary and of subordin- ated interest to work of man.

Traditional gender relations in fishing communities caused restrictions for women to participate in public space.

Professional fishermen’s organisations, fishery advisory committees, etc. are the domain of men (“professionals”) and therefore women do not participate (at decision making level).

This also resulted in “invisibility” of women’s role in official fisheries documentation, statistics and policies.

I. Recognition of women’s productive role:Women’s organisations press for recognition and support for their work in fisheries

Formal/Legal status of the collaborative spouse for women who do managerial work in the operation of artisanal fishing enterprises (administration, book-keeping, sales, etc.) Professional status for women who practice artisanal aquaculture or shellfish/seaweed gathering on shore, artisanal fish processors and net menders.

By State and fishermen’s organisations, trade unions and fishery related bodies.

implies:

Access to representation (fishermen’s organisations, trade unions, fishery policy making bodies, etc)

Access to social security system (pension, maternity leave, insurance).

Access to support for improvement of working conditions (labour legislation, recognition occupational illness, information, education)

Access to support for development of their own fishery enterprise or of activities that complement the family fishing enterprise, such as

Appropriated (certified) training, education, validation of experience.

Independent (micro-)credit and other development services for women’s initiatives.

Licenses, labels.

II. Recognition of women’s reproductive role:Women’s organisations press for recognition and support for their role in sustaining fishing communities and their culture. Implies:

Access to representation, a say in policy making (fishermen’s organisations, trade unions, fishery policy making bodies, etc)

Political and material support to initiatives of women (’s organisations) for the improvement and promotion of artisanal fisheries and their communities.(Recruitment of youngsters, public awareness raising, safety campaigns, environmental campaigns etc)

Women’s organisations fight against discrimination

Abolishment (gender related) discriminatory taboos and norms hindering equal opportunitiesfor males and females to fisheries-related professions and to resources

Equal rights for males and females of heritage of fishing rights.(licenses, quota, etc.)

(5)

“New” Fisherwomen’s movement in Europe

Achievements and challenges

Vary and depend of the nature of the fisherwomen’s organisations

and the reality of the fisheries industry and the historical context of each

country/region

In some countries fisherwomen’s organisation achieved a (limited) legal / professional status (France, Spain),

In more countries fisherwomen’s organisations achieved “visibility” and formal recognition and have access to policy making (but still at marginal level) and various support programmes for women’s initiatives (but with low impact).

At EU level lobby resulted in:

+ Resolution of EU parliament(recognition of women’s role and support for women’s initiatives)

+ European Fisheries Fund: equal opportunities for men and women in objectives (fisheries policy)

+ Representation of women’s organisations in RAC (fisheries management)

Challenge

fishermen’s organizations

Long history of exclusion of women from fishermen’s organisations. Persevering gender related discriminatory perceptions and norms among male dominated leadership of fishermen’s organizations.

• Women’s interests and contribution (perspective) are subordinated. Women’s organizations have still marginal impact.

Challenge

the state

• Gender perception: women as “weaker sex” are used by policy makers and politicians to push their interests,

• Fishery (management) policy: is there space for fisherwomen’s interest and contribution (perspective)? Gender not integrated in statistics and fishery research, women’s organizations have still marginal access to policy making.

Challenge

linking with

other (rural) women’s organisations

• More diverse interests (cultural, historical, social and economical)

• Lack of knowledge of fisheries and fishing communities in existing other (rural) women’s organisations.

Challenge

building the fisherwomen’s movement

•Shared interest against divided interests (e.g. owner-worker, fishing dependency, cultural differences),• Long term perspective (women must act on direct felt needs),• Recruitment new members (women need support of husband/men to join/participate, women’s marginalised role in fisheries),• Lack of resources (time, funds, experience, knowledge),• Lack of self confidence.

Taking up the challenge

26 May 2006

foundation

AKTEA European Network of Women’s in fisheries and

aquaculture

AKTEA is the Nereid of Hellenic mythology symbolising the shore. Fisherwomen are

mainly practising their activities on the shore.

Objectives of AKTEA  1. To promote the visibility of women’s role in fisheries,2. To promote the recognition of women’s contribution in the sector, 3. To promote the participation in decision making on matters which affect (women’s role in) fisheries, 4. To promote exchange of experiences, problems and resolutions among women in fisheries around Europe,5. to promote a sustainable development of fisheries and the preservation of fisheries communities, 6. to promote the acceptance of women’s organisation within the fisheries political and institutional frame,7. to promote the improvement of women’s self confidence.

Most important contribution and challenge of

AKTEA :

to bring in a ‘new’ perspective in the development of

European fisheries and its communities.

To say

+ A community perspective

(safeguarding livelihood, social links and cohesion, equity)

+ The care for quality of life

(validation of a way of life, validation of natural resources).

+ The change of the traditional gender roles and perceptions in fisheries, recognition and strengthening of women’s role in family based fishing and aquaculture production and in sustaining the fisher community.