In July 2021, AKTEA co-organised workshop sessions on “Promoting strong and innovative SSF value chains”. These workshops focused on best practices for creating competitive economic advantages for the men and women working along the small-scale fisheries value chain.

It was reminded that:

• Women work all along the value chain – preparations for fishing trips, making gear, fishing on boats, sorting fish after landing, selling fish… but this work is not always recognized and is often considered as helping or part of family chores. Women tend to need to work more and harder than men to prove themselves and be accepted. The situation is however different in different locations depending on local traditions and customs – from women not being allowed to fish to being well accepted on boats.
• Women bring rich culture and creativity to the sector that need to be valorized. Being organized in associations and networks help women exchange experiences and to understand that they are doing a proper work, not just „helping‟, when doing different types of fisheries related work. Women need to recognize their own role to be able to also convey this understanding also to others. Recognising and supporting the role of women is important economically for both men and women and society more broadly.