Women In Fisheries
Women's roles in fishing families
Pan-Atlantic project launches website
Women in Fisheries, a study examining how women contribute to the survival of both fishing families and the fishing industry, officially launches this week. The research project is collecting data on both sides of the Atlantic - in Newfoundland and Labrador and in the UK -and intends to shed light on women's roles, identities and wellbeing.
Dr Madeleine Gustavsson, a visiting post-doctoral fellow with Memorial University and a research fellow at the University of Exeter's European Centre for Environment and Human Health, is leading the study and believes its timing is crucial.
"Small-scale vessels make up 80 per cent of the fishing fleet in the UK yet receive only four per cent of the national fishing quota. By failing to prioritise this industry, many believe the UK government has left the communities that depend upon it vulnerable," she said.
Women in Fisheries is also hoping to understand how small-scale fishing families (those using boats under 10m in length) are adapting to a changing environmental and economic climate.
The new website provides background on the research and explores what is currently known about the role of women in this sector.
"Listening to women's stories is a central part of this research and the new website provides information about how people can sign up and take part. We want to hear from as many women involved in fisheries as possible, whatever their roles might be," said Dr. Gustavsson, adding that they are particularly interested in hearing from women on the Avalon and Burin peninsulas within the inshore/small boat sector.
The site features a regularly updated news section where people can follow the project's progress, read the latest research, and discover other efforts to improve recognition of women in fisheries on local and international levels.
Funded with support from an ESRC new investigator grant, the project is also working closely with these small-scale fisheries practitioners and advocacy groups: European network for women in fisheries and aquaculture (AKTEA), Low Impact fishers of Europe (LIFE), and the Coastal Producer Organisation.
Those that are interested in participating can register on the website or contact Dr. Gustavsson directly on Twitter @mcgustavsson.
For further details on the project please contact Dr. Madeleine Gustavsson on m.c.gustavsson@exeter.ac.uk or via cell at 709-986-8616