Women in fisheries in Asia

The paper will present a picture of the situation and role of women in fisheries in the Asian region. Country/sub-Asia regional profiles of women in fisheries are expected from clusters in: South Asia (to include India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives); Mekong (to include Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma); Southeast Asia (to include Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand); Arab region (to include Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia); Taiwan; Korea; Japan; China. Although Asia is a huge diverse continent, most Asian societies are male dominated. There is however, a growing awareness of gender inequalities and the disadvantaged position women have been relegated to by social conditioning. Such an awareness is only gradually being appreciated and recognized in fisheries management and attempts to meaningfully address the issues have been forthcoming but uneven across countries. Although prevailing conditions, contexts and status of research and development may vary across the Asia region, an exposition of these variations should present alternative models which can suggest directions for empowering women's participation in fisheries.