Women Empowerment in Fisheries

This research highlights the crucial yet underrecognized role of women in fisheries, who contribute significantly to household stability and economic well-being despite facing barriers such as limited access to resources, lack of official recognition, and restrictive gender norms. Using descriptive analysis, inferential statistics, and qualitative focus group discussions (FGD), the study identifies education, organizational participation, financial access, and leadership opportunities as key factors influencing women's empowerment. The Women’s Empowerment in Fisheries Index (WEFI) is proposed as a tool to measure and address gender disparities systematically. Findings emphasize the need for policy reforms and targeted interventions to enhance women's economic independence, increase their role in decision-making, and improve their socio-economic conditions in the fisheries sector.