Gender Differences in Participation, Roles, and Attitude towards Mariculture Operation: A Case Study in the Philippines

• Published in: Asian fisheries science Vol. 30S; pp. 83 - 102
• Main Author: FERRER, ALICE JOAN G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Manila Asian Fisheries Society 2017
• Subjects: Community involvement; Gender; Households; Human resources; Marine; Marine aquaculture; Poverty alleviation; Small-scale aquaculture; Socioeconomic aspects; Sociology; Women; ISEW, Philippines
• ISSN: 0116-6514; 2073-3720
• DOI: 10.33997/j.afs.2017.30.S1.004

Mariculture was envisioned to contribute to poverty reduction by increasing employment opportunities and income in the area where it is situated. This paper assesses the participation in mariculture of local men and women in seven mariculture sites in the country, the roles they perform, and their willingness to be involved in mariculture operation. The data used were collected through a household survey, focus group discussion, and key informant interviews conducted in January to August 2015. Results show that only 24 % of the 785 households had members with any participation in mariculture since they were established in the area. By site, household participation ranged between 5 % and 44 %. This was translated to only 228 individuals. Although the men dominated mariculture, the women had demonstrated that they can equally contribute to mariculture as an operator, caretaker or feeder. The majority of the study participants expressed they like having mariculture in their municipalities, particularly men from non-fishing households. The willingness to be involved in mariculture was also high, particularly among men from fishing households. The willingness to become a mariculture operator was higher among women than men. The women or local residents, particularly from households who are interested in mariculture, must be given support to start up small-scale mariculture operations towards increasing local employment and reducing poverty in mariculture areas. To increase women participation in mariculture, women stereotypes need to be overcome and also local legislations that will require a certain percentage of all mariculture harvests to be sold directly to local retailers and small processors, mostly dominated by women, are needed.