Engendering Blue Swimming Crab Fishery Management: A Case Study in Lampung, Indonesia

Abstract

Despite growing recognition of fisherwomen’s roles in the fisheries sector, their limited participation in fisheries management and governance remains a concern. A gender analysis of activities in the blue swimming crab (BSC) fishery illustrated how women are involved in all stages of the BSC value chain except at the capture stage. This study explored the different roles and needs, the relationship among actors in terms of gender, economics and power dynamics, as well as gendered roles and relations among stakeholders, and the opportunities and challenges faced by the actors. The fishing families are dependent on patrons for loans for fishing, daily needs and emergencies has created an imbalanced relationship, but it also provides emergency support. The gender analysis was followed by efforts to mainstream gender into the fishery management committee, aiming to improve the fishery management. This paper discusses how women participation in fishery management was encouraged using a transformative approach by organizations and NGOs that facilitated the process by addressing women’s needs as well as increasing the awareness among men, the wider community, and the government-of women’s contributions to the BSC fishery.