WSI releases the results of a worldwide survey carried out on the perception that
men and women have on the position, role and responsibilities occupied by
women in the seafood industry. The survey based on 700 responses of seafood
professionals collected from September to December 2017, has evidenced
pervasive gender based discriminations, strong gap in perception between men
and women and a limited consciousness of the gender relationship and gender
imbalance in this industry. This objective diagnosis offers a solid basis for opening
routes towards progress.

During autumn 2017, 700 seafood professionals agreed to share their perception
on the situation of women at their workplace and in their industry in general. Their
precise answers and enlightening comments were analysed to produce this
exploratory survey which fills in some knowledge gaps, feeds the debate and
identifies new avenues to address the challenge.

Not gender equitable One seafood professional in two (56%) admits that this
industry is not equally attractive and equitable to both genders. The percentage of
women reporting inequality is much higher at 61% compared to 38% among men.
Answers range from 50% in the NGO sector to 64% in the fishing industry.

Differences by continent are wider, with a 24 point difference between South
America (64%) and Scandinavia (40%), the latter being the only region where
positive opinions outweigh negative ones.

The survey has evidenced gender based discrimination at work, unfavourable
working conditions, strong prejudices and unequal opportunities for women. These
barriers do not operate separately from each other; rather they stimulate each
other and form a vicious circle that shapes gender characteristics and interactions
among professionals in the seafood industry. Consequently, as a majority of
respondents reported: these hurdles make this industry unattractive to women,
mainly for those who have the capacity to choose among different professional
environment.

Much room for progress...
This 2018 panorama of gender equality in the seafood industry is at the same time
gloomy and promising. Responses to the survey confirm what had been
evidenced elsewhere: no activity is free from gender discriminations, stereotypes
and imbalanced working opportunities. Gender inequality is pervasive and not yet
on the agenda of a great majority of seafood leaders, offering per se room for
progress.

...and the right context to start it
Gender inequality is an unfair fact. However it won’t be able to resist progressive
laws, positive dedicated mainstream programmes in public and private sectors,
and an evolution process of seafood leaders’ mind-sets. Under the combined
pressure of calls for progress from intergovernmental institutions, justifiable
requests from a growing number of women, the pressure of dedicated NGOs,
and last but not least the positive influence of gender sensitive and responsible
companies, this industry can no longer ignore the issue.