Coastal Fisheries Programme
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Number 27 - December 2016

Coordinator: Veikila Curu Vuki, Oceania Environment Consultants, PO Box 5214, UOG Station, Mangilao, Guam 96913

Production: Pacific Community, Fisheries Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems Division, Information Section, BP D5, 98848 Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia

Prepared with financial assistance from the Australian Government, the European Union, France and the New Zealand Aid Program


Editor's note

Welcome to the 27th issue of the Women in Fisheries Bulletin, which highlights gender roles in coastal fisheries, women’s fishing activities in urban and rural communities, and gender issues in development.

In this issue, the first article relates to the Fijian supply chain and marketing of the seagrapes, Caulerpa racemosa. The authors, Cherie Morris and Shirleen Bala, describe the harvesting and marketing sites for Caulerpa. Approximately 70% of the crop is from the Yasawa Islands in the Western Division. It is sold in a number of urban markets, with the main municipal market located in Suva. Caulerpa is sold by portion (heaps), at prices ranging from FJD 2.00–4.00 (≈ USD 1.00–2.00) per heap, the weight of which ranges from 250–300 grams.

The peak marketing days of Caulerpa in Fiji are Fridays and Saturdays. Fresh, harvested stock arrives in the main markets (Suva and Lautoka) by Thursday afternoon. Some harvesters do their own retailing but most stock is sold directly to wholesalers and market vendors in Lautoka, Nadi, Sigatoka and Suva. Most harvesters located on Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second largest island, retail their own stock direct with little wholesaling.

In the second paper in this issue, “Changing patterns in household membership, changing economic activities and respective roles of men and women in Matoka Village, Onoilau, Fiji Islands”, Veikila Vuki describes the changing economic activities in an isolated island in Fiji. The roles of men and women in sustaining and efficiently running households in the village are also clearly explained.

In the third paper, “Gender issues in culture, agriculture and fisheries in Fiji”, Veikila Vuki and Aliti Vunisea describe relevant statistics on gender and cultural issues. They note that there are still very few women participating in major decision making in the various societies represented in Fiji. Land tenure, traditional social organisation and customary marine tenure ownership are still very much dominated by males. Men are actively involved in commercial and semi-commercial agriculture and fisheries while women are active in marketing and post harvest agriculture and fisheries activities. Women’s contribution to subsistence agriculture and fisheries is higher than men’s contribution.

Aliti Vunisea’s paper on “The participation of women in fishing activities in Fiji” describes how indigenous women fishers are engaged in Fiji’s fisheries sector in various ways. She maintains that women’s role in the fisheries sector is critical but is still poorly understood, undervalued and underappreciated, as is their role in the fisheries supply chains.

Women are expert fishers in the inshore fishing areas and most fish and invertebrate species are targeted, both for selling in the domestic markets and for household consumption. Many fish and invertebrate species have also been the target of value added activities.

In the article “Towards gender-equitable fisheries management in Solomon Islands”, Olha Krushelnystka synthesises the study on “Gender, fisher, trader, processer: towards gender-equitable fisheries management and development in the Solomon Islands” (Barclay, Payne and Mauli 2015). This report identifies gaps in the social and economic opportunities and constraints for women in the fisheries sector in Solomon Islands to provide policy directions and future investments in the fisheries sector.

The report also analyses women’s involvement in the supply chains of the tuna fisheries and coastal fisheries sectors of Solomon Islands. Women’s contribution in tuna and fisheries supply chains is enormous but there are limited data to measure their involvement. Therefore, many initiatives are not gender sensitive and so the engagement of women in the sector is often overlooked.

The report also recommends ways to efficiently improve information and data to address the involvement and inclusion of women and to contribute to the social benefits from the fisheries sector. The report finds that women have a high potential in increasing the sustainable management of aquaculture and coastal fisheries activities and supporting men’s fishing activities in the sector.

To close this issue, we publish two articles about two Pacific women who were recognised by Aquaculture without Frontiers in 2016. Dr Meryl Williams was recognised as the “Woman of the month” in January 2016 and I was very fortunate to be recognised in February 2016. Dr Meryl Williams’ extensive contributions to global research in fisheries and aquaculture and her global contribution to advocacy of women and gender in aquaculture and fisheries were recognised. Similarly, my contributions to the Pacific Islands as a researcher, educator and community worker were recognised. In particular, my supporting role and contributions to SPC’s Women in fisheries Information Bulletin since 2007 has provided and maintained a global profile on women in fisheries information network.

I welcome any feedback on these articles and encourage you to submit articles on gender and fisheries issues from your country or region.

Veikila Curu Vuki

 


Contents

Supply chain and marketing of seagrapes, Caulerpa racemosa (Forsskaål) J. Agardh (Chlorophyta: Caulerpaceae) in Fiji
Morris C., Bala S. (pdf: 843 KB)
Changing patterns in household membership, changing economic activities and roles of men and women in Matokana Village, Onoilau, Fiji
Vuki V. (pdf: 887 KB)
Gender issues in culture, agriculture and fisheries in Fiji
Vuki V.,Vunisea A. (pdf: 345 KB)
The participation of women in fishing activities in Fiji
Vunisea A. (pdf: 409 KB)
Toward gender-equitable fisheries management in Solomon Islands
Krushelnytska O. (pdf: 846 KB)
True gender champion recognised
Anon. (pdf: 594 KB)
Veikila Vuki: Cultivating the sharing of information on aqua women
Anon. (pdf: 210 KB)


pdfDownload the complete publication:

Women in fisheries #27 (pdf: )

 


 

 
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