Undervalued and Essential: Women in Seafood Production

The seafood industry, encompassing fisheries and aquaculture, is vital to global economies and food security. Yet gender disparities within this sector remain pervasive. Despite comprising at least half of the workforce, women’s contributions in pre- and post-harvest tasks are systematically undervalued. Women are often underpaid and receive fewer benefits than men. However, research on the seafood industry rarely documents or investigates the implications of gendered labor. This study examines how women’s labor is undervalued by industry management and policy frameworks. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature from fisheries science, labor studies, and gender studies, it argues that the seafood industry depends on women’s labor, even as it marginalizes their contributions. Addressing these inequities is essential for advancing equity (including fair wages, access to benefits, and protection from discrimination) and for ensuring long-term sustainability of the seafood industry.