Women in fisheries make a splash at pioneering workshop
Women in the fishing industry have made a splash at the Women in Fisheries workshop held in Bangkok, Thailand, in May 2024.
Women are an important, but underrepresented, component of the fishing industry. Increased participation of women will build a more diverse, skilled workforce, ready to tackle the emerging challenges facing the fishing industry in Australia and around the world.
The Women in Fisheries workshop welcomed 70 participants from across south-east Asia to share their experiences in gender inclusivity and overcoming barriers for women’s participation in fisheries careers.
Three representatives from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority participated in the workshop including a male participant advocating for inclusion and gender diversity in the fishing industry.
The three-day workshop provided an opportunity for women to share their career experiences and learnings. A regional network of female fisheries officers was also established to build strong partnerships that will facilitate information sharing to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing ensuring fish stocks are managed sustainably to support the livelihoods of people in the region.
Countries represented at the workshop included Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Timor Leste, Vietnam, and Thailand.
Ms Sidonie Lowe, Senior Fisheries Officer, was inspired by hearing the stories of her counterparts at the workshop.
“It was an amazing opportunity to hear from other women in Southeast Asia about the successes and challenges many still face being a female in a male dominated operational environment”, said Ms Lowe.
Ms Madelaine Crowden, Senior Fisheries Officer, stressed the importance of working collaboratively with counterparts to combat IUU fishing.
“The workshop was a fantastic opportunity to meet with my fellow female counterparts across Southeast Asia. I’m looking forward to building on the networks I’ve established during the workshop to combat IUU fishing.
Mr Brodie Macdonald, Senior Manager Northern Fisheries, welcomed the opportunity to participate in the workshop and promote the importance of diversity in the fishing industry.
“The Women in Fisheries workshop and the focus on gender inclusivity in the broader Combating IUU Fishing and Promoting Sustainable Fisheries in South-east Asia program, is an important step to promoting diversity in our industry”, said Mr Macdonald.
The program is managed by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and is funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade until 2026.
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