Meyer, Abigail and Scherer, Marinez and Balderamos, Jamani and Chacon, Nidia and Dixon, Brooke and Estep, Andrew and Mohamed, Shaistha and Menzies, Peter and Nistharan, Fathimath and Paufve, Matthew and Quintela, Adriano and McClintock, William J. (2025) Gender-based ocean uses and values: Implications for marine spatial planning. Maine Policy, 178. p. 18.
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
Our study contributes to a more gender-sensitive approach to marine spatial planning, aiming for balanced, sustainable growth in the blue economy. It examined gendered ocean use patterns and their implications for equitable marine spatial planning. To document the distinct ways men and women interact with and value ocean spaces, we analyzed participatory mapping results from Ocean Use Surveys (OUS) conducted in three regions: the Maldives, the Azores, and Belize. The findings show that, globally, men dominate offshore activities like commercial fishing, whereas women’s activities are concentrated nearshore, often involving informal economic roles such as subsistence fishing, tourism, and cultural uses. Our analysis generated gender-specific heat maps highlighting areas of ocean use by sector and gender. This gender-disaggregated data revealed spatial and sectoral differences: in the Azores, women are more active in research and recreational fishing; in Belize, they engage in mariculture; and in the Maldives, they participate in more informal, small-scale, self-employed economies. We also addressed the gender gap in ocean data, a result of historic biases in data collection, which has led to undervaluing women’s contributions to the maritime economy and to gender-blind policies. The findings stress the need for gender-disaggregated data in marine planning to avoid exacerbating gender inequities and to ensure inclusive, effective policies. We recommend enhanced data practices that capture women’s oceanic contributions, advocating for mixed-gender survey teams and targeted outreach to reduce bias. Policymakers are encouraged to integrate these insights to support equitable marine governance, fostering inclusivity in ocean resource management.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), Women, Blue Economy, Ocean Use Surveys (OUS), Commercial Fisheries, Governance, Resources Management, Recreational Fisheries, Azores, Belize, Maldives, Mariculture |
| Subjects: | Gender in Fisheries and Aquaculture |
| Depositing User: | Kokila ICSF Krish |
| Date Deposited: | 04 Jun 2025 06:51 |
| Last Modified: | 04 Jun 2025 06:51 |
| URI: | http://icsfarchives.net/id/eprint/22127 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
