Lambayeque: Women leaders in artisanal fishing meet to strengthen their capacities at international event

Think of someone involved in fishing. Have you ever thought of a man on a boat catching fish? While this image is common, it is far from reflecting the full diversity of people involved in fishing. In fact, according to the FAO, women represent 50% of the global fishing and aquaculture workforce, mainly in pre and post-fishing activities. 

Today, more women occupy key roles in the sector, such as boat owners, crew members, filleters, fisherwomen, fish traders, etc. They also hold leadership positions in fishing organizations, as in the case of Elsa Vega, president of the National Society of Artisanal Fishing, an association that represents fishing vessel owners in Piura and Lambayeque; or Grace Unda, vice president of the Artisanal Fishing Production Cooperative of Seafood Products of Galapagos in Ecuador. 

Event to empower women in the artisanal fishing sector 

In order to make the role of women in the artisanal fishing sector more visible and to strengthen their capacities, the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law (SPDA), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), ProDelphinus and WWF Peru are co-organizing the event "Women to the Sea: strengthening capacities for women leaders of fishing communities in Peru and Ecuador", to be held on May 2nd and 3rd in Chiclayo, Lambayeque. This activity is expected to bring together more than 50 women leaders of the sector from Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque, Lima, Ica, Arequipa, Moquegua (Peru) and Manta and Galapagos (Ecuador) and is being carried out within the framework of the Por la Pesca and BAF Mar 2025 projects. 

In addition, the meeting will host the premiere of the mini-documentary Women to the Sea: stories of women who make artisanal fishing possible, which brings together the testimonies of several women leaders in artisanal fishing who share their experiences and the challenges they have faced in the sector. 

The Women to the Sea event will consist of two plenary sessions, the first focusing on the challenges of artisanal fisheries in both countries and the second on experiences in promoting gender equality from the public and private sectors. There will also be parallel workshops on: marine conservation and the role of women in fisheries; assertive communication for women leaders; strengthening self-esteem and leadership; and capacity building for business management. In addition, the exchange of experiences will be promoted in order to develop proposals to promote gender equality in the artisanal fishing sector. 

About the Por la Pesca Project

Por la Pesca aims to reduce illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in Peru and Ecuador, and is a joint effort between the Walton Family Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law (SPDA), WildAid, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Pro Delphinus, Future of Fish, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Redes-Sostenibilidad Pesquera and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). 

About the BAF Mar 2025 Project

This project is driven by an alliance with The Nature Conservancy Peru, the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law and SERNANP, and aims to strengthen the effective management of four protected natural areas: Los Manglares de Tumbes National Sanctuary, Illescas National Reserve (Piura), San Fernando National Reserve (Ica) and the National Reserve System of Islands, Islets and Punta Guaneras-Islotes Fishermen Group (Lima), through technical and financial assistance to their headquarters and management committees, as well as the promotion of formal and sustainable economic activities.