Women's role in fishing communities: the cases of Brufut and Gunjur in the Gambia
by
Isatou Touray,
Sociologist
Introduction
In an economy that is traditionally dominated by agriculture, like in Gambia, fish has always been the main source of animal protein. This means that the fishing sector is the main job supplier for the coastal and riverine inhabitants of the Gambia. Gambian women, who are used to take care of themselves since long, play an active role in the fishery sector.
Macro-economic aspects
The Gambia, which has a 50km coastline, is crossed by the river Gambia which divides the country into two parts. Fishing is carried out both on the coast and on the inland stretches of water (rivers, lakes and lagoons). Fishing is subdivided into two sub-sectors: industrial and artisanal fisheries, the latter being dominated by women. Today this sector is an important source of foreign currency for the Gambia and employs about 20,000 people.
Artisanal fishing is carried out on board improved or motorized monoxyl canoes. The most common gears used are gillnets, lines and traps.
Gunjur and Brufut are two of the seven major coastal fisherfolk communities where artisanal fishing is very competitive. In both communities, women represent about 50% of the population. They are active in fish landing, processing and marketing.
Women's activities in the fishing communities of Gunjur and Brufut.
The women of Gunjur and Brufut are mostly engaged in post catch activities. They are not trained for sea operations. The drying of fish is their exclusive activity while it is both women and men who are active in fish smoking. Generally, fish is smoked in basins or on grilling platforms. After that the fish is wrapped in baskets or special bags according to the degree of smoking. Drying take place in the sun, after the fish has been salted. Women are engaged in fish landing and in the retailing of fishery products. The latter is in competition with men. But, only women collect oysters. It appears however that men are more and more engaged in activities which use to be reserved for women. In reaction, women would prefer to have their own boats and manage them themselves.
On the whole, very little importance is given to women's contribution in the fisheries sector. Even projects initiated by organizations such as FAO and the Common Wealth's Scientific Committee did not pay proper attention to their role. Consequently, women found mechanisms likely to improve their status: they organized themselves in "Kafoos" and "Osusu" type groups in order to be granted credit facilities for the purchase of materials essential for their activities.
Incomes and their use
Incomes derived from fisheries vary from one activity to the other. Generally, as initial capital is limited, profit margins are very small. The larger part of women's income is reinvested in the purchase of fresh fish. However, part of the income is spent on family needs, especially food and the education of children. In the Gambia, as the saying goes, the primary objectives of every fishing project is the improvement of food security.
Relationships between men and women in the communities of Gunjur and Brufut
The fact that men dominate the fisheries sector in the Gambia, creates competition between men and women. It happens very often that after drying, women sell the fish to their husbands at insignificant prices. This is a kind of exploitation due to the unequal power relation between men and women in the fisheries sector and it raises the critical question of freedom for both men and women in this sector.
Constraints and recommendations
The major constraints are related to the lack of financial assistance for the purchase of fishing materials especially boats. In addition, there are problems such as the scarcity of wood (the only source of energy for smoking), the insufficiency of transportation means and marketing outlets and the lack of appropriate infrastructure (i. e. larger smoking areas). Moreover, women have a very limited access to improved technologies and scientific knowledge as a result of negative factors such as population growth, increasing competition of fishery resources, the decrease in fish reserves due to over-exploitation and environment defacing. Yet, thanks to their work and performance women play a major role in fishing activities.
For women's contributions to be taken into account, it is advisable that the government's development policy considers gender issues, that aid organisations facilitate access to credit for women. It is also necessary to supply women with improved technology equipment, to organise them and to set up a training and literacy centre.
Conclusion
If women of Gunjur and Brufut fishing communities were supported by the government they would contribute better to the development of artisanal fisheries in the Gambia. This would reduce the disparity between men and women in the exploitation of fishery resources.
IDAF's approach to correct this inequality is a good orientation towards the emancipation of women in Gambian communities.
