A Gender Perspective on Securing Livelihoods and Nutrition in Fish-dependent Coastal Communities

Abstract

Pe er rs sp pe ec ct ti iv ve e o on n S Se ec cu ur ri in ng g L Li iv ve el li ih ho oo od ds s a an nd d N Nu ut tr ri it ti io on n i in n F Fi is sh h-d de ep pe en nd de en nt t C Co oa as st ta al l C Co om mm mu un ni it ti ie es s

The Cyclical Nature of Maritime Security Threats: Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing as a Threat to Human and National Security in the Gulf of Guinea

“…In coastal communities in Kenya, for example, fisherfolk give special access to fish to women with whom they have sex. Although such examples evince consensual trade (sexual) relationships, further examples from Zambia provides evidence that sex has been used as a coercive tool, whereby fisherfolks refuse to sell their fish to female mongers who refuse to engage in these sexual transactions (Matthews et al, 2012). Evidence from Bonny, Uganda, Kenya and Zambia reveal similarities, yet are disparate from each other, in that, fishmongers in Bonny also have to sell their bodies to non-fisherfolks for cash.…”

“…Therefore, the pervasiveness of HIV in fishing communities such as those in Bonny threatens the sustainability of indigenous knowledge about fisheries resource management, as well as economic growth in the region. As Matthews et al, (Matthews et al, 2012) observed, HIV/Aids have severe economic effect as fewer fisherfolks live enough to engage in investments that will encourage growth in their communities.…”

“…According to Akintoye et al (2016), the NLNG provided counselling and testing for 24, 256 persons - Importantly, sex work is linked to the prevalence of HIV/Aids in the Niger Delta region including Bonny -30 per cent of sex workers in the region are said to be HIV positive (Udoh et al, 2009;Akintoye et al, 2016). This, coupled with the traditional mobility of fisherfolks makes the increasing incidences of HIV in communities such as Bonny a threat to public health, as the fisherfolks' mobility encourages the spread of the disease to other areas (Seeley and Allison, 2005;Matthews et al, 2012).…”

Integrating Climate Adaptation, Poverty Reduction, and Environmental Conservation in Kwale County, Kenya

“…In Kenya, mama karanga is the name given to women who buy fish from fishermen, process the fish (usually through deep frying it), and sell it in their local communities or those nearby. Women report that they engage in this activity due to the lack of alternative income-earning options as the work does not require much education and skills, and although the barriers to entry are low, the profit margins are also very small (Matthews et al 2012).…”

“…Additionally, failure to engage women in management efforts, coupled with women's prominent roles as environmental stewards, results in lost opportunities to improve conservation practices and sustainably manage natural resources upon which these communities' livelihoods depend. Integrating gendered considerations into conservation and development interventions increases the likelihood that they will achieve targeted outcomes of poverty alleviation and improved food security in coastal communities (Matthews et al 2012).…”