Making visible the roles of women in marine-coastal artisanal fishing in the Gulfof Salamanca (Magdalena-Colombia), from a human rights perspective

Abstract

Approximately 61.8 million people worldwide depend on fishing and aquaculture for their livelihoods. Of these, 24% are women, who actively participate in all stages of the value chain. However, the roles played by women have been undervalued, poorly recognized, and inadequately documented. This study aimed to characterize and highlight the main roles of women in artisanal fishing in the Gulf of Salamanca, in the Magdalena Department, Colombian Caribbean. Fifty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted, distributed into 26 associated and 26 non-associated women, from the communities of Ciénaga, Tasajera, and Pueblo Viejo. The results show that most women, both those in fishing associations (ASC=73%) and those not (IND=46%), are involved in fish marketing and face problems related to
lack of opportunities and lack of recognition for their work (35% and 62% respectively). Furthermore,
the participants identified gender equality as the primary human right being violated within the sector (ASC=57.7% and IND=61.5%). As solutions to the identified problems, the women proposed the creation of a committee and greater access to capital to improve their livelihoods. These results demonstrate the need to implement and design strategies aimed at recognizing and strengthening women’s participation, thus promoting gender equity and equality in the artisanal fishing sector.