Closing the gender gap: How new initiatives are transforming traditional roles in fisheries and aquaculture – Global Seafood Alliance

Report on Gender-Inclusive Initiatives in Fisheries and Aquaculture

Introduction: Advancing Sustainable Development Through Gender Equality

Effective management of natural resources is critical for community food security and livelihoods, directly impacting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Environmental threats, including overfishing and climate change, often exacerbate gender disparities within sectors like fisheries and aquaculture. This report examines two key initiatives in Indonesia and Zambia that demonstrate how empowering women contributes to multiple SDGs, including SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). These programs highlight that recognizing and elevating women’s roles is fundamental to creating resilient, equitable, and sustainable management systems.

Case Study 1: Blue Swimming Crab Fishery, Indonesia

Program Objectives and SDG Alignment

In Lampung, Indonesia, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and local NGO Mitra Mentala launched a program in 2021 to address the systemic exclusion of women in the blue swimming crab fishery. Despite their integral roles in the supply chain, women’s contributions were largely unrecognized, and they were excluded from decision-making processes.

• SDG 5 (Gender Equality): The primary objective was to strengthen women’s roles and ensure their inclusion in fisheries management.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The program aimed to enhance household economies by creating alternative livelihood opportunities.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): A key component involved training women to process crab shell waste into valuable food products, promoting a circular economy.
• SDG 14 (Life Below Water): The initiative supports broader efforts to advance climate-resilient and community-based fisheries management.

Interventions and Outcomes

The program implemented a multi-faceted strategy to build capacity and foster independence among women.

1. Group Formation and Capacity Building: Eight women’s groups were formed across five villages, receiving training in leadership, public speaking, and financial management.
2. Livelihood Diversification: Women were provided with hands-on training to turn crab shell waste into marketable products like crackers and cookies, enabling them to launch small-scale businesses.
3. Policy and Management Inclusion: As a result of increased confidence and advocacy, the women’s groups gained formal recognition. In 2023, they were appointed as members of the provincial fishery management team, granting them voting rights on management and economic development strategies.

The formal recognition of these groups marks a significant milestone in achieving SDG 5, ensuring women’s voices directly influence the sustainability and economic future of their communities.

Case Study 2: Tilapia Aquaculture, Zambia

Program Objectives and SDG Alignment

In Zambia’s Nyawa chiefdom, the EU-funded Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme, in partnership with CIFOR-ICRAF, initiated a tilapia farming project through the Sianyongo Fish Farming Cooperative (SFFC). The project was designed to counter rising illegal hunting and habitat loss.

• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): The core goal was to provide a sustainable, alternative source of protein to wild meat, enhancing local food security.
• SDG 15 (Life on Land): By reducing reliance on hunting, the program directly contributes to the conservation of terrestrial wildlife and ecosystems.
• SDG 1 (No Poverty): The initiative was developed to create a significant and sustainable livelihood for the community.
• SDG 5 (Gender Equality): The program was structured to ensure women were central to its success, playing crucial roles in all aspects of production and leadership.

Interventions and Outcomes

The initiative has demonstrated significant progress in production and empowerment since its inception in 2022.

1. Infrastructure and Production: Four tilapia ponds were constructed and stocked, with production increasing from 860 kg in 2024 to 1,279 kg in 2025 due to improved management.
2. Women’s Leadership and Participation: Women are actively involved in pond construction, management, sales, accounting, and leadership roles within the SFFC, breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated sector.
3. Economic Empowerment: The sale of tilapia has generated significant income, providing women with financial independence and strong business acumen in production, marketing, and pricing.

This initiative serves as a model for how promoting gender equality can simultaneously achieve conservation goals (SDG 15) and improve community livelihoods (SDG 1 and SDG 2).

Challenges and Future Strategic Directions

Identified Obstacles to Sustainable Growth

Despite their success, both programs face challenges that require targeted interventions to ensure long-term sustainability.

• Climate Change Impacts: In Zambia, increased frequency of droughts threatens the water supply for ponds, while hotter weather complicates fish storage.
• Economic and Logistical Hurdles: The high cost and logistical difficulty of procuring fish feed in Zambia is a major constraint. In Indonesia, women’s enterprises require greater financial backing and market access.
• Social and Institutional Gaps: A persistent challenge is the general lack of recognition for women’s contributions from the broader market and industry, which is needed to sustain momentum.

Recommendations for Advancing the SDGs

Future efforts should focus on building resilience and scaling the impact of these gender-inclusive models.

1. Develop Localized Supply Chains: Support the development of locally produced fish feed in Zambia to reduce costs and dependency, furthering SDG 12.
2. Strengthen Market-Based Support: Implement targeted interventions to connect women-led enterprises in Indonesia to wider markets and financial resources, advancing SDG 8.
3. Promote Climate-Resilient Practices: Introduce adaptive measures such as solar-powered water systems and value-added processing techniques like fish drying to mitigate climate risks.
4. Increase Women’s Representation: Continue to advocate for women’s inclusion in policy forums to mainstream gender equality (SDG 5) in resource management at all levels.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty: The article discusses programs aimed at providing “alternative livelihoods” and enhancing “household economies” in Indonesia and Zambia, directly addressing poverty by creating new income streams.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The initiative in Zambia focuses on farming tilapia to provide a “sustainable source of protein” and an “alternative source of protein to wild meat,” contributing to food security and improved nutrition in the community.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: This is a central theme. The article details efforts to close the “gender gap” by ensuring women’s inclusion, recognizing their contributions, and empowering them with “leadership roles” and “voting rights” in fisheries management.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The programs foster economic empowerment by enabling women to launch “small-scale businesses” and cooperatives, building their “financial and leadership skills” and creating sustainable economic opportunities.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article highlights how the programs address the exclusion of women from decision-making processes, aiming to reduce gender disparities within the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The initiative in Indonesia demonstrates sustainable practices by “turning crab shell waste into valuable food products,” which reduces waste and creates value from byproducts.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The program in Indonesia is part of broader efforts for “climate-resilient, community-based fisheries management” of the blue swimming crab fishery, promoting the sustainable use of marine resources.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership. The article explicitly states that women in Indonesia were “officially recognized by the governor of Lampung as members of the provincial fishery management team,” giving them “voting rights on blue swimming crab management.”
• Target 5.a: Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources. The programs provide women with training, resources, and support to form cooperatives and businesses, thereby increasing their access to and control over economic resources.
• Target 2.3: Double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women. The tilapia farming project in Zambia shows a significant increase in production, with harvests growing from “860 kilograms” in 2024 to “1,279 kilograms” in 2025 from the same ponds, directly increasing the productivity and income of the women involved.
• Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men. The initiatives create new economic roles and businesses for women in crab processing and tilapia farming, contributing to productive employment.
• Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. The Indonesian program includes “practical training on turning crab shell waste into valuable food products, like crackers and cookies,” directly addressing waste reduction through reuse.
• Target 14.b: Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets. The programs help women’s groups “launch small-scale businesses and connect their products to wider markets,” improving their economic access and integration into the supply chain.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Proportion of women in managerial/leadership positions (Indicator 5.5.2): The article mentions that in 2023, the women’s groups were “officially recognized by the governor of Lampung as members of the provincial fishery management team,” which is a direct measure of their participation in decision-making bodies.
• Volume of production per labour unit or area (Indicator 2.3.1): The article provides specific production figures for the tilapia ponds in Zambia. It states that “two ponds yielded over 860 kilograms” and later “total harvests reaching 1,279 kilograms across all ponds,” which can be used to track productivity.
• Average income of small-scale food producers (Indicator 2.3.2): The income generated from the tilapia harvest is explicitly mentioned: “generating approximately ZMW60,200 (USD $2,600.00)” from the initial 860 kg harvest. This is a direct indicator of economic progress.
• Number of women’s groups formed and operational: The article states that the program in Indonesia resulted in “the formation of eight women’s groups across five villages” between 2021 and 2024. This is a clear indicator of increased organization and empowerment.
• National recycling rate, tons of material recycled (related to Indicator 12.5.1): While not providing a national rate, the article implies a local indicator by describing the process of “turning crab shell waste into valuable food products,” which measures the amount of waste being repurposed.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: globalseafood.org