Gender-based Ocean Uses and Values: Implications for Marine Spatial Planning

Our study contributes to a more gender-sensitive approach to marine spatial planning, aiming for balanced, sustainable growth in the blue economy. It examined gendered ocean use patterns and their implications for equitable marine spatial planning. To document the distinct ways men and women interact with and value ocean spaces, we analyzed participatory mapping results from Ocean Use Surveys (OUS) conducted in three regions: the Azores, Belize, and the Maldives. The findings show that, globally, men dominate offshore activities like commercial fishing, whereas women’s activities are concentrated nearshore, often involving informal economic roles such as subsistence fishing, tourism, and cultural uses. Our analysis generated gender-specific heat maps highlighting areas of ocean use by sector and gender. This gender-disaggregated data revealed spatial and sectoral differences: in the Azores, women are more active in research and recreational fishing; in Belize, they engage in mariculture, such as seaweed farming; and in the Maldives, they participate mainly in nearshore recreational activities. We also addressed the gender gap in ocean data, a result of historic biases in data collection, which has led to undervaluing women’s contributions to the maritime economy and to gender-blind policies. The findings stress the need for gender-disaggregated data in marine planning to avoid exacerbating gender inequities and to ensure inclusive, effective policies. We recommend enhanced data practices that capture women’s oceanic contributions, advocating for mixed-gender survey teams and targeted outreach to reduce bias. Recognizing women’s nearshore roles can strengthen coastal economies by formalizing their contributions. Policymakers are encouraged to integrate these insights to support equitable marine governance, fostering inclusivity in ocean resource management.