Advancing Gender Mainstreaming for Sustainable Fisheries: Insights from Southeast Asia

Abstract

Gender integration is essential for achieving sustainable fisheries in Southeast Asia, where women play crucial yet underrecognized roles across the fisheries value chain. This article explores the region’s progress and persistent challenges in mainstreaming gender, in alignment with global frameworks such as the SSF Guidelines and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It underscores the pivotal contribution of regional institutions, notably SEAFDEC, in driving gender-responsive actions through training, research, and tool development. National examples, including women’s entrepreneurship in Thailand and leadership initiatives in Vietnam, demonstrate tangible benefits of inclusive approaches. However, critical gaps remain, such as weak policy implementation, entrenched cultural norms, and limited sex-disaggregated data. The article concludes that advancing gender equity in fisheries requires continuous institutional strengthening, improved data systems, and enhanced regional cooperation to empower women as central actors in fostering social justice and ecological resilience within Southeast Asia’s fisheries sector.