Empowering women to safeguard aquatic food systems in a changing climate

21 January 2025

Aquatic foods, sourced from inland and marine fisheries or cultivated through aquaculture, are vital pillars for global food security, poverty alleviation, and economic development. Across the world, millions of people depend on these aquatic food systems (AFS) for their livelihoods and sustenance. However, these systems are facing growing threats from human activities. Overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and the worsening impacts of climate change are placing unprecedented pressure on AFS.

The changing climate, marked by rising temperatures, ocean acidification, and extreme weather events, compounds these challenges. Without intervention, lower-income countries in Africa, the Indo-Pacific, and South and Southeast Asia stand to face the gravest risks by 2100. The consequences will affect nutrition, health, social structures, economies, and the environment. Ironically, higher-income countries contribute the most to greenhouse gas emissions and are projected to experience comparatively lower climate risks.

However, not everyone experiences these challenges equally. The harshest impacts of climate change fall on those who already live with inequality. Women, in particular, are disproportionately vulnerable due to their reliance on natural resources and the burdens of household, caregiving, and productive labor. Despite their critical role in AFS, women often lack the resources and opportunities to adapt, restrained by entrenched gender norms and power imbalances.

To tackle this challenge, a team of gender researchers carried out a study to understand how gender and other social identities shape the adaptive capacity of AFS. This initiative, spearheaded by WorldFish, the International Water Management Institute, and other CGIAR centers, including IITA, aimed to explore how women and marginalized groups respond to climate risks and build resilience.

The team developed a conceptual framework to map how climate stressors interact with gender and socio-economic factors, influencing AFS outcomes. A comprehensive literature review spanning 2017 to 2022 was conducted to capture the latest insights. The research also drew from global datasets, including the Illuminating Hidden Harvests project, to analyze participation in small-scale fisheries. Bangladesh, a leading aquaculture producer, was a case study to delve deeper into how women navigate and adapt to climate challenges.

Findings showed that women are central to small-scale fisheries and aquaculture economies, yet their contributions often go unrecognized. Addressing this invisibility is essential to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 14, which calls for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources. For sustainable progress, the focus must shift towards empowering women and fostering resilience within AFS.

The study proposed several pathways for policy, research, and intervention. First, addressing power inequalities is paramount to drive meaningful change. Women need greater decision-making power over resource allocation and income. This can be achieved by involving both women and men in initiatives that enhance food security and diversify livelihoods.

Second, the value of women’s work across the aquatic food value chain must be acknowledged and documented. Gender-sensitive approaches should be integrated into project planning, supported by sex-disaggregated data to track progress and outcomes.

Third, research must continue to investigate the intersection of gender, climate change, and small-scale fisheries, amplifying the voices of local actors and reinforcing their role in shaping solutions. This inclusive approach ensures that communities actively participate in building sustainable, equitable, and resilient AFS.

As climate change continues to reshape our world, the resilience of aquatic food systems depends on scientific innovation and social transformation. According to one of the researchers, a Senior Scientist and Gender Specialist at IITA, Steven Cole,
“By addressing gender inequalities and embracing intersectional perspectives, we pave the way for a future where AFS thrive, communities prosper, and the oceans remain a source of life for generations to come.”

Contributed by Ochuwa Favour Daramola