Making Women Seen in Belize’s Fishing Industry

Belize’s fishing industry also depends on women at every stage of the supply chain, yet many remain “undocumented”, overlooked, or excluded from opportunities in the sector.

That challenge took centre stage at the ninth annual Women in Fisheries Forum held today. It is focused on the blue economy and exploring how women can move beyond fin fish, lobster, and conch into other sustainable fisheries.

The two-day event brings together fishers, entrepreneurs, and conservationists to push for greater access to resources, financing, and leadership opportunities with a particular focus on women’s roles in the sector.

Marine Conservation Director at the Wildlife Conservation Society Ralma Lamb-Lewis says the conversation must move on to expanding women’s access to resources and economic opportunities.

“We’ve definitely gained traction in terms of recognising the role that women play within this space,” said Lamb-Lewis. “But more so what we want to transition into now is for us to be able to definitely increase their access to some of the resources available out there.”

She said women process seafood, manage fishing households, add value to products and operate businesses linked to the marine economy. Yet many remain absent from official records.

“A lot of these women sell their products to the cooperatives, and they’re their husband’s or their spouse’s name,” Lamb-Lewis explained. “It’s not documented that they’re actually fishing and that they’re selling these products.”

Without documentation, women cannot access social security benefits, injury protection, or the funding available through NGOs, government, and donor agencies. “Once they’re documented, it allows you to access more opportunities,” Lamb-Lewis added.