Empowering change in Ocean Science: raising women's voices through a supportive network

Created in November 2023 and founded in October 2024, NOWA Network of Women in Aquaculture is a social entrepreneurship initiative dedicated to promoting gender equality, sustainability and inclusivity across the global aquaculture industry. Our initiatives focus on providing training, resources, and support to women in the aquaculture industry, empowering them to lead and thrive. 

NOWA's journey began in June 2023 during a transformative training session in Athens, facilitated by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the FAO, along with FEAP and HAPO, to implement the GFCM Resolution GFCM/45/2022/1 on empowering women in aquaculture. This pivotal event brought together eleven women from the Mediterranean and Black Sea and with  diverse backgrounds i.e. students, researchers, and entrepreneurs, all driven by a shared commitment to sustainable aquaculture. Under the expert guidance of these leading international organisations, the participants recognized a significant gap in the industry: the need for a dedicated network to support and empower women in aquaculture. This realisation laid the foundation for NOWA, aimed at bridging these gaps by providing a global platform for support, training, and advocacy, transforming the aquaculture industry from within.

As a non-profit organisation, we advocate for gender equality, sustainable aquaculture practices, and the importance of women's leadership in the industry. We raise awareness about the challenges and opportunities for women in aquaculture. The founding members of NOWA are a group of inspiring women, each a leader in her own right, representing the diverse sectors of aquaculture and fisheries across the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions. We bring together a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion to drive the mission of NOWA.

Through the development of mentoring programs, training courses, and networking opportunities, NOWA is committed to building a strong and supportive network for women in aquaculture and transforming the aquaculture industry, ensuring that women’s contributions are recognized and valued. 

Our mission is to contribute to creating a future where women play a leading role in driving positive change in aquaculture, managing healthy marine ecosystems, offering comprehensive scientific insights, and providing food security. We envision a world where women have equal access to resources, representation in decision-making processes, and are recognized as key stakeholders in the sustainable development of aquaculture.

For this reason, we firmly believe that our participation in the One Ocean Science Congress will provide valuable insights by amplifying the voices of women working in aquaculture, highlighting their technical and scientific contributions to addressing the critical challenges facing our oceans. By doing so, we aim to enrich the dialogue with innovative solutions and a holistic approach, fostering stronger connections among science, society, action, and policy. This will also promote broader engagement with civil society. To further this goal, we propose organising a roundtable to involve other experts present at the event in the discussion.