Gender equality in the fisheries Sector

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ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. This bottom-up initiative was collected by Burcu Borhan Türeli, Esin Düzel and Ayşe Gül Altınay within ACCTING’s mapping of inspiring practice cases, within the Farm to Fork Research Line. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

Women in Fisheries Society, Turkey

Combatting gender discrimination through Women in Fisheries Society

In Turkey, at least one out of every 30 fishers is a woman. Although women are vital to the fishing industry, they confront major issues as a result of gender discrimination in the sector, such as the social view that fishing is a “male profession.” To solve this problem, a group of women from various occupations launched the Women in Fisheries Society: an ambitious NGO striving to strengthen women fishers’ rights while protecting coastal ecosystems. The organisation’s founders contributed to the Women Fishers Commission establishment in 2017 under the umbrella of Turkey’s largest fisherman’s cooperative, which had previously refused to admit female members. After recognizing Women in Fisheries Society as an NGO in 2019, the group attracted even more support on a national and international level.

Joining effort for a fair fishing industry

The project aims to change the unfavourable circumstances faced by women fishers in Turkey while developing a joint effort to have their voices heard, gain political weight, and influence policymakers. This initiative also stands for;

• Changing the traditional idea of gender roles in the fisheries sector by having women in fisheries provide training, consulting, and mentoring
• Inspiring women to lead their communities while increasing their visibility and representation in the workforce.

The society also intends to carry out a variety of activities, such as advocacy and communication training to safeguard marine and coastal ecosystems, as well as research conduction and information dissemination in diverse fields of nature conservation and gender.

Find out more here.

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