In Indonesia, small-scale fisheries (SSF) play a crucial role in providing nutrition and income for many communities. About 97 percent of the fisherfolks in Indonesia are small-scale as per their the boat size, which is below 10 GT. Women, constitute over half of these fisherfolks. Banyuwangi District, located in the East Java Province, stands out as a leading contributor in capture fisheries in the province.

Women in Banyuwangi primarily engage in fishery product processing and marketing thereby holding significant roles. Women actively participate in all phases of fish production, processing, and distribution, contributing to wealth generation, preservation, and household nutrition fulfillment. Despite their significant contributions and numerical dominance, their needs and contributions often go unnoticed.

FAO and the Ministry of Marine and Fisheries (MMAF) initiated the 'Implementing the Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines for Gender-Equitable and Climate-Resilient Food Systems and Livelihoods' project in Banyuwangi in July 2022. The primary goal of the FAO project is to promote gender equity and climate-resilient food systems and livelihoods within the SSF communities.
Acknowledging the importance of women in small-scale fisheries, Rajendra Aryal, FAO Representative in Indonesia and Timor Leste, emphasized on their central role in promoting fish as a nutritious source for daily consumption. "It is important to recognize the role of women in small-scale fisheries. Women play a central role in promoting fish as a source of nutrition and daily consumption", said Aryal.

Various interventions have been implemented to enhance the capacity of women in SSF and strengthen their involvement in the fisheries value chain, particularly in post-harvest activities. Recent FAO surveys conducted in Banyuwangi have revealed that although the women have nearly equal access to fishery activities, almost 70% of them have limited decision-making role over the use of income generated from these activities. This highlights the imbalance in women's roles within the economic sphere.

Within the span of one year, various training and mentoring activities have been carried out to enhance the capacity of women group, specifically on awareness raising, building organizational skills, business development, and improving quality and competitiveness of processed fish products. Retno Setyowati (39), the owner of a small grilled fish stall in the coastal village of Blimbingsari, 20 km from the center, expressed that the various trainings have enabled her and her group to learn how to package grilled fish and produce bottled chili sauce that further helped her expand her market.

"Yesterday, we sent the grilled fish and chili sauce to our customers in Jakarta and Surabaya. Not only have I been able to expand my market, but I have also learned how to set a reasonable price for my products”,said Retno. With the new knowledge and skills, small fish processors lik Retno have been able to increase their incomes by as high as 40%.

"The role of women in coastal life not only contributes to economic and environmental sustainability, but also reflects gender equality and the importance of inclusion in decision-making", said Machmud, the Secretary of Director General for strengthening the competitiveness of marine and fisheries products at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF).

Raising Public Awareness of Women’s Role in Small Scale Fisheries

To address these challenges and promote the recognition of women’s role in the fisheries sector, raising public awareness about their roles in SSF and the nutritional value of fish is crucial.
In collaboration with the MMAF and together with the Fisheries Office of Banyuwangi District, FAO organized an event aimed at introducing the importance of fish consumption and its impact on nutrition to the local community and the youth. The event included a range of activities ,such as talk shows, a drawing competition, fish cooking demonstrations, and a mini expo.

“This event aims to raise awareness on the importance of women in small-scale fisheries and fish for nutrition among the local community, including youth and various stakeholders said, “ Alief Rachman Kartiono, Head of Fishery Agency in Banyuwangi District.

This event served as a platform to raise awareness among the local communities, including youth, and engage stakeholders in recognizing the importance of women in small-scale fisheries and their role in ensuring better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better quality of life. It aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No poverty), SDG 2 (Zero hunger), and SDG 5 (Gender equality).
“Empowering women in the small-scale fisheries sector contributes to the achievement of the SDGs. By enhancing their roles, we can drive positive change to reach better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life”, added Aryal further.