Women in fisheries
This article was featured in Eurofish Magazine 4 2025.
An event dedicated to women in fisheries broke down language barriers and built confidence and trust among the participants allowing them to reflect on their experiences without inhibition.
In April 2025, WWF Adria, in collaboration with the WWF Mediterranean Marine Initiative, hosted the first Mediterranean retreat dedicated to women in fisheries in Split, Croatia. The event, Women Together in Fisheries, brought together 40 women from eight Mediterranean countries: Italy, Tunisia, Turkey, Greece, France, Spain, Portugal, and Croatia.
Women from all walks of fisheries-related life
The majority of the participants were women working in small-scale fisheries (SSF) businesses across the Mediterranean. They were joined by researchers in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, fisheries policy and administration officers, marine conservation experts, artists, and educators. Some participants were members of associations and networks for women in fisheries, while others held leadership positions in fisheries organisations. This diverse group created a powerful opportunity to strengthen visibility, solidarity, and regional cooperation among women in the sector.
The retreat was designed as an informal and inclusive space, where participants could connect, share experiences, and reflect on the challenges they face as women in the sector. We deliberately called it a retreat to move away from the formal structure of a conference, explained Kora Dvorski, event coordinator from WWF Adria. Instead of a packed agenda, we focused on allowing time for genuine, personal interactions. While professional interpretation was available for the event, the organisers recognised that language barriers could still hinder spontaneous, face-to-face communication. To overcome this, retreat facilitators engaged participants in creative activities to foster cross-border dialogue. Under the guidance of WWF Greece’s moderator Eleni Svoronou, women used body language, maps, role play, and group support to present their work in fisheries.
The result was a dynamic and fun atmosphere. By the middle of the first day, the room was filled with laughter and an overwhelming sense of mutual respect and admiration among the women, said Ms Dvorski. The energy in the room showed just how meaningful it was for these women to have a space where they could connect across borders, feel seen, and share their experiences freely.
Shedding light on the invisible force
As part of the retreat, WWF Adria organised the exhibition Invisible force in fisheries at the Split fish market. The portraits, taken by international documentary photographer from Croatia, Ivana Vareško, depicted fisherwomen working on their family-owned fishing boats. Some of the images had previously featured in Vogue and in FAO’s 2024 report Women in Fisheries in the Mediterranean and Black Sea Region: Roles, Challenges and Opportunities. The exhibition brought visibility to a group often overlooked and highlighted the essential contributions women make to small-scale fisheries.
Women make up approximately one-third of the fisheries workforce across the Mediterranean and Black Sea, including small-scale and industrial sectors (FAO, 2024)1. Their participation varies by value chain stage and subregion. Women represent 28% of total fisheries employment, with the highest concentration—38%—in post-harvest roles such as sorting, cleaning, processing, and marketing. Their presence is lower in pre-harvest (16%) and harvest (10%) roles. However, these figures are likely underestimates due to the lack of gender-disaggregated data, informal work, and limited gender-focused research. As a result, women’s contributions are often overlooked, leading to marginalisation in decision-making processes and underutilisation of their knowledge and expertise. Ensuring women’s perspectives are included in fisheries research and governance is essential for sustainable and equitable future of fisheries.
Women leading change share their experience
The second day of the retreat began with the panel Women’s Initiatives and Networks in Fisheries, moderated by Pinija Poljaković, an experienced public speaker. The panel featured four women leaders whose work continues to shape the sector:
Marilou Suc, blue economy consultant and co-founder of the Network of Women in Aquaculture (NOWA), described how the new network fosters a supportive community that encourages women’s participation and leadership in aquaculture.
Adriana Celestini, President of Penelope—Women in Fisheries in Ancona and former President of AKTEA, spoke about the importance of women’s representation in fisheries governance and emphasised self-confidence as a foundation for active involvement.
Sandra Amezaga, Secretary of the Galician network Mulleres Salgadas and of the European network AKTEA, highlighted the ongoing lack of institutional support for women’s organisations and called for greater public awareness of the structural challenges women still face.
Antonia Vassiliou, President of the Panhellenic Association for Fishing Tourism, shared insights from her experience leading in a male-dominated profession and stressed the persistence required to create space for women in professional fishing.
The insights from these panellists offered a reflection on the evolving and increasingly visible role of women in the sector. Each of them has helped pave the way for greater recognition of women’s work, stressing the importance of persistence and continued engagement. The community holds dear the memory, wisdom, strength, and passion shown by Adriana Celestini—whose legacy will continue to inspire women in their efforts to advance their role in fisheries.
Building momentum for a Mediterranean network
A key outcome of the retreat was the strong sense of support and belonging that emerged. Participants expressed a clear desire to stay connected and continue building a Mediterranean network for women in fisheries. The retreat also sparked ideas for collaborative projects that could further strengthen regional cooperation and visibility. For most of the fisherwomen from Croatia, this was their first experience of an event designed specifically for them. Many were surprised to learn that in other countries, women fishers are formally organised in associations, cooperatives, and even market their own brands. This inspired a renewed sense of possibility and evoked practical ideas for action in their local communities. Following the retreat, the SSF Forum Workshop took place in Split on 9–10 April 2025. Co-organised by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) and WWF, the workshop welcomed 41 participants from eight countries. For the first time, women represented the majority of attendees. The objective was to bring together small-scale fishers to exchange knowledge, explore the impacts of fishing gear, and share practical solutions and local success stories from the region.
Looking ahead to a more equitable future
The Women Together in Fisheries retreat represented a critical step toward increased recognition, inclusion, and empowerment of women in the Mediterranean fisheries sector. By creating a supportive environment and promoting regional collaboration, the event helped lay the foundation for a more equitable and sustainable future—where the essential contributions of women are no longer invisible, but celebrated and embraced.
Kora Dvorski, Coastal communities officer, WWF Adria
1 Merayo, E., Vakhitova, V., & Carlson, A. (2024). Women in fisheries in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region: roles, challenges and opportunities (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean; FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division). Rome: FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc9869en