Women’s role and support for the closed fishing season in the small-scale fisheries (SSF) of Davao Gulf, Philippines

Abstract

Women’s role and support for the fisheries are barely acknowledged, they are stereotyped and marginalized and given limited participation in the fisheries. This study aims to describe the role of women and investigate their support for the closed fishing season in the small-scale fisheries (SSF) of Davao Gulf, Philippines. Survey data were collected in six study sites, only surveying women respondents involved in fishing and fishery-related activities. Interviews were conducted from November 2019 to July 2020 with respondents from Governor Generoso, Lupon, Davao City, Sta. Maria, Malita, and Don Marcelino (N = 255). The information collected was validated through seven focus groups with a total number of participants, N = 112. Results showed that women respondents who live near the shore, were poorly educated, attended elementary level (38%), do not own any parcel of land (91%), but have access to microfinance credit (64%). Women participated in the fisheries by gleaning for food and income. Some of their activities were performed to support their husbands, including preparing fishing gears (23%), food processing (6%), collecting and sorting fishery products (10%), marketing fish catches (25%), and gleaning (21%). Other results showed that women strongly support the closed fishing season which was significantly influenced by fisheries-related variables e.g. proportion of catch sold, and belonging to a family of fishers [B = 0.459 (S.E.=0.188), Wald = 5.928 df = 1, p = .015]. They support the policy for sustainability of their husband’s catches and their livelihood. Women also mentioned the need for financial seed capital for fishing gears, fishing operation and rented stalls for selling of fish.