Transdisciplinary analysis of Pacific tuna fisheries: A research framework for understanding and governing oceans as social-ecological systems

Syddall, Victoria Margaret; Thrush, Simon F.; Fisher, Karen

doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104783

Cited by 13 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Some women work in administration in onshore bases for fishing and very few go to sea (Table 4). In a few small‐scale family enterprises in Bitung, Fiji and Solomon Islands women fish, often with their husbands, but sometimes independently (Satapornvanit & Parengkuan, 2020; Syddall et al., 2021). Some donor and non‐government organizations are funding training for women to fish on industrial tuna vessels in Fiji (World Wildlife Fund, 2019) and Solomon Islands (International Finance Corporation [IFC], 2019).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This work examined the economic and livelihood aspects of tuna fisheries value chains, food supply and environmental sustainability, disaggregated by socio‐economic status, migration status and gender (McClean et al., 2019). The third body of work examined the impacts of governance and tuna fisheries development in Fiji and Solomon Islands, using gender and climate change as lenses for conceptually modelling social–ecological system networks (Syddall et al., 2021). National‐level statistics for human development and gender inequality ratings have been used to contextualize findings from these projects, and policy documents reviewed to see how women and gender are addressed in fisheries policies.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tuna is women's business too: Applying a gender lens to four cases in the Western and Central Pacific

Barclay

Satapornvanit²,

Syddall

et al. 2021

Fish and Fisheries

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The USD6 billion Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) tuna fisheries produce over half the world's tuna and are important for coastal countries. Tuna fisheries policy, management and research currently focus on fisheries resources and industrial fishing on offshore vessels with all male crews, although women, as much as men, are employed in tuna processing and trading in domestic, informal and export value chains. We apply a gender lens to four WCPO case-study tuna industries: Suva and Levuka in Fiji, Bitung in Indonesia, General Santos City in the Philippines and Western Province including Noro in Solomon Islands. The gender divisions of labour, livelihood opportunities and social impacts vary greatly across the value chain nodes, depending on the size, quantity and quality of fish handled, and the scale of operations. The gender lens also reveals the social impacts of fishing when husbands/fathers/sons are killed or injured, absent for long periods and engage in sex, drugs and alcohol behaviours in port. Despite the centrality of women in tuna industries, and the gendered social impacts, regional and national policies largely omit gender. The tuna discourse should be broadened from that of male-dominated industrial fishing to whole of value chains including domestic and informal enterprises in which women are equally involved. Progress on gender equity needs collaboration by multiple stakeholders including industrial firms employing people in factories, offices and on fishing vessels, regional bodies and national governments responsible for policy, monitoring and regulation, and research agencies to build knowledge. K E Y W O R D S equality and equity, gender division of labour, gendered value chains, inclusive fisheries policy, just work in fisheries, tuna industries | 585 BARCLAY et AL. 590 4.3.1 Fishing node 590 4.3.2 Processing node 591 4.3.3 Trading node 592 4.4 Effects of COVID-19 592 4.5 Gender in WCPO fisheries organization policies 593 5. DISCUSSION 595 6. CONCLUSION 598 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 598 CONFLICT OF INTEREST 598 AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS 598 DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT 598 Semi-structured interviews 19 (10F, 9M) Suva and village of Waiqanake May 2019 Semi-structured focus discussion groups 1 Kalekana village (6F) Bitung, Indonesia Project: Gender and labour analyses of the tuna industries Researchers: Arlene Nietes-Satapornvanit with Sam Ratulangi University and Verité, respectively Semi-structured interviews 85 (29F, 56M) Bitung, Manado, Sangihe (labour) October 2016 Structured interviews 244 (123F, 121M) (gender) March-May 2017 Focus group discussions 5 (2F, 1M, 2 mixed) (gender) Inception workshop 22 (14F, 8M) (gender) Gender-responsive value chain mapping workshop 50 (35F, 15M) (gender) Key informant interviews 25 (4F, 21M) (gender) 8 (2F, 6M) (labour) October 2016 Stakeholder validation workshop 25 (20F, 5M) (gender) May 2017 Integrated stakeholder validation workshop 100 (53F, 47M) (gender and labour)

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tuna is women's business too: Applying a gender lens to four cases in the Western and Central Pacific

Barclay

Satapornvanit²,

Syddall

et al. 2021

Fish and Fisheries

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“…In addition, data were coded for language that suggested relationships such as "dependence" as well as stories about impacts. A matrix applying a SES framework was used (developed and outlined in Syddall et al (2021); see Fig. 1) to explore gender with a focus on gendered roles, policy and governance, and social and cultural norms.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Drawing on a range of theoretical perspectives, including development theory, gender studies, and feminist studies, we consider how gender shapes, defines, enables, or constrains women's engagement and agency in fisheries-based development premised on economic growth, social development, and wellbeing. To accomplish this, we use a transdisciplinary SES framework (developed in Syddall et al (2021) and applied here) to elucidate the role of women, and the gender dimensions of WCP tuna SES in Fiji. This paper shows 1) the persistence of gender-based stereotyping and implications for women and gender-based violence; 2) the limitations of gender mainstreaming policy and practice despite evidence of a transition towards more equal outcomes for women; and 3) the potential for unintended outcomes due to a failure to consider gender within the context of WCP tuna SES.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What does gender have to do with the price of tuna? Social-ecological systems view of women, gender, and governance in Fiji’s tuna fishery

2022

Self Cite

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Western and Central Pacific (WCP) tuna fisheries form part of a broad and complex social and ecological system (SES). This consists of interconnected elements including people (social, cultural, economic) and the biophysical environment in which they live. One area that has received little attention by policy makers is gender. Gender is important because it deepens understandings of behaviours, roles, power relations, policies, programs, and services that may differentially impact on social, ecological, economic, cultural, and political realities of people. This paper contributes a “first step” to examining gender issues in WCP tuna SES. Women’s roles in WCP tuna SES in Fiji are explored and an evaluation of the impact fisheries development policy has on gender equality over the past two decades is revealed. Three key findings emerged from interviews, focus group discussions, and observations: 1) traditional gendered roles remain where women are marginalised in either invisible or low-paid and unskilled roles, and violence is sanctioned; 2) gender mainstreaming of policy and practice remain simplistic and narrow, but are transitioning towards more equitable outcomes for women; and 3) failure to consider gender within the context of WCP tuna SES leads to unintended outcomes that undermine potential benefits of the fishery to broader society, especially to women. A multifaceted approach is recommended to integrate substantive gender equality into SES-based approaches. This research argues educating and getting women opportunities to work on boats falls short of redressing inequality and injustice that is embedded in the social, political, and economic status quo.

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“…This science needs to proceed in a transdisciplinary way (e.g. Syddall, Thrush & Fisher, 2021) and target actions that are effective and fair. Most importantly, we must better understand the needs and priorities of ocean‐dependent peoples and evaluate potential solutions for them (Singh et al, 2021).…”

Section: Why It Is Critical To Fully Recognize the Key Role That The ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The forgotten ocean: Why COP26 must call for vastly greater ambition and urgency to address ocean change

Laffoley

Baxter

Amon

et al. 2021

Aquatic Conservation

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1. Of all the interconnected threats facing the planet, the top two are the climate and the biodiversity crises. Neither problem will be solved if we ignore the ocean. To turn the tide in favour of humanity and a habitable planet, we need to recognize and better value the fundamental role that the ocean plays in the earth system, and prioritize the urgent action needed to heal and protect the ocean at the 'Earthscape' levelthe planetary scale at which processes to support life operate.2. The countries gathering at COP26 have unparalleled political capacity and leadership to make this happen. COP26 could be the turning point, but there must be commitment to united action for the ocean, as well as planning to meet those commitments, based on science-led solutions that address the interconnectivity of the ocean, climate, and biodiversity.

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Transdisciplinary analysis of Pacific tuna fisheries: A research framework for understanding and governing oceans as social-ecological systems

Cited by 13 publications

References 47 publications

Tuna is women's business too: Applying a gender lens to four cases in the Western and Central Pacific

Tuna is women's business too: Applying a gender lens to four cases in the Western and Central Pacific

What does gender have to do with the price of tuna? Social-ecological systems view of women, gender, and governance in Fiji’s tuna fishery

The forgotten ocean: Why COP26 must call for vastly greater ambition and urgency to address ocean change

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