Millions across the globe harvest fish as their main occupation while millions of others have it as part of their staple diet. Commemorating the international women’s day as well as the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022), Food and Agriculture Organization in Oman hosted an event on Friday highlighting the role small scale fishers, fish farmers and fish workers play in food security and nutrition, poverty eradication and sustainable natural resource use.
The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2022 the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022). The year serves as an important recognition of the millions of small-scale fishers, fish farmers and fish workers who provide healthy and nutritious food to billions of people and contribute to achieving Zero Hunger.
The event served as a celebration of the many roles that women occupy in the fields of fisheries and aquaculture, as well as their contribution to achieving food security and nutrition, poverty eradication and sustainable natural resource management.
The Friday event featured a video walkthrough of an art exhibition of coastal women in Oman, as well as a children's workshop highlighting the importance of coastal women in the upbringing of the new generation.
Recognising the efforts of women and to increase their visibility and contribution to the globally important sectors in fisheries, FAO joined forces with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation and Bait Al Zubair to organise the “Women and the changing tide: breaking the bias - Lessons from Omani small-scale fisheries” held at Bait Al Zubair Foundation under the auspices of Dr Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrouqiyah, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.
The event highlighted how the workers hold enormous potential to promote transformative changes in production, processing, distribution and consumption of fish and aquatic products. While they contribute to a healthy diet, they also keep traditions alive.
As global food systems face many complex challenges, including hunger, malnutrition, degraded ecosystems and the impacts of climate change, experts said there is an urgency to act to shape agri-food systems to deliver the quality diets needed for good health, relieve pressure on the planet’s natural resources and drive inclusive economic growth. The hope is that the transformation would also present many opportunities, including through the development of fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
They pointed out that women have played a vital role in the mentioned fields for centuries and are now making strides in seizing opportunities to start their own businesses and seek management roles.
The event was conducted in a hybrid physical and virtual setting, which was broadcast to a live audience and also throughout the world, and featured a wide of array activities all devoted to empowering coastal women.
The Director-General of the International Organization for Women in the Seafood Industry, Camille Cherries, spoke on global views of the biases that women face in the fisheries sector - what needs to be done, what will be the impact?
Deputy Secretary-General of the Magrebeen Platform for Artisanal Fisheries addressed the issue on how women’s collectives in the fisheries sector can empower women in terms of participation and decision making.
Dr Nora Ourabah Haddad stated, “Women's work is essential to thriving coastal fisheries. Together with Bait Al Zubair Foundation, we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the imperative role that coastal women play along the fisheries value chain.” She added, “We call on everybody to build a world in which coastal women are fully recognised and empowered to continue their contributions for human well-being, food systems and poverty alleviation through the responsible and sustainable use of fisheries and aquaculture resources.”
The celebration offered an opportunity to enhance dialogue between different actors, and to strengthen small-scale producers to collaborate with one another and make themselves seen, heard and included in decision making that shapes their everyday lives – all the way from local community level up to international and global forum.
Dr Mohammed bin Abdul Karim al Shahi, General Manager of the Bait Al Zubair Foundation, said: “This event represents the long standing partnership between the Bait Al Zubair Foundation and FAO, which previously included various joint activities and initiatives that aimed at establishing cultural awareness of food and agricultural systems. He added, “Finding common ground in the fields of culture and tradition, and food and agriculture is a key factor that Bait Al Zubair seeks to promote with FAO in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”
FAO contributes to reducing gender inequalities through its work on norms and standards, data and information, policy dialogue, capacity development, knowledge and technologies, partnerships, and advocacy and communication. At the global and regional level, FAO advocates for sharpening the focus of high-level dialogue and decision making regarding food security and nutrition to ensure that gender equality and women’s empowerment issues are adequately addressed and mainstreamed in related programmes as a contribution to the sustainable transformation of food systems.
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