Driving sustainable and equitable ocean-based food systems through the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment

Gender equality and women’s empowerment have the potential to drive transformative change in aquatic food systems, therefore stimulating the key drivers of sustainable development whilst making value chains more equitable and efficient. The support of equitable and just power dynamics across fisheries and aquaculture-reliant communities aligns with the need to face endogenous and exogenous threats that are putting communities worldwide under increasing levels of pressure, such as reduction of fish stocks, economic instability and employment vulnerability, exposure to the effects of climate change and risks associated with natural shocks and pollution of aquatic ecosystems.

Intersectional factors, including age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, further shape women’s and men’s experiences and amplify vulnerabilities within the sectors. Addressing these challenges requires approaches that acknowledge and actively dismantle entrenched gender norms and divisions of labor. Gender-based constraints in aquatic food systems are the cornerstone of women’s invisibility: as women are “invisible” economic agents they are indeed prevented from accessing services, markets and decent work, they bear a triple work burden exposing them to economic vulnerability, they are excluded from decision-making processes and lack access and control over resources which are vital to their individual and collective empowerment.

Technical approaches and perspectives are increasingly being developed to provide effective tools to address gender-based constraints and create space for women and men to benefit from different activities along the value chains. A focus on transformative actions for gender inclusion within ocean-based food systems enables us to reframe women’s roles from passive or secondary to dynamic and integral. This includes supporting women’s leadership, amplifying their voices in governance, and integrating gender perspectives into policy and research. Such actions help break down barriers, open new opportunities for women, and encourage broader perspectives on how ocean resources can be managed equitably.

Creating an inclusive space for dialogue and shared knowledge among diverse stakeholders is essential. By foregrounding the contributions and insights of women who are directly engaged in these sectors, we can build a foundation for more responsive and equitable policies. These lived experiences, captured through case studies and community initiatives, offer practical examples of resilience and leadership that are essential for advancing gender equity. Through collaborative, intersectional policy-making and research, we can unlock the full potential of women’s contributions to sustainable, equitable ocean-based food systems. The sharing of lessons learned, innovative practices, and diverse perspectives strengthens our collective understanding and paves the way for gender-equitable governance and transformative actions within marine socio-ecological systems.