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Women of the Ocean

GEF/UNDP Coastal Fisheries Initiative

By IW:LEARN

June 26^th, 2019

Hilda's relationship with mangroves began more than 20 years ago back in the 1990s, when she started working as a shell extractor. Today at 64, she continues to visit the mangroves every day. She believes that it nourishes her with strength and vitality.

The oceans are the largest and most important resources on our planet. They act as the lungs of the world generating most of the oxygen we breathe and the food that feeds 2.6 billion people. As if that was not enough, the oceans also represent the livelihoods of billions of people, including women who seek equality in the oceans.

This year’s World Oceans Day was the time to explore gender equality in the ocean. The stories and voices of these women are often unheard and overlooked. Just as the hidden deep ocean currents play a key role in the health and viability of the ocean, the work of these women, though invisible, is essential.

Caring Roots

In the intertidal zones in the tropics and subtropics, mangroves connect the land with the sea. With resistant roots that feed on saltwater, this ecosystem supports a diversity of marine species in their juvenile stage as well as others throughout their life. Including the reproduction and feeding of hundreds of fish, molluscs and crustaceans.

On the border between Peru and Ecuador, there are extensive hectares of these mangroves. This space, as in the rest of the world, is home to a great variety of flora and fauna, which makes it a source of food and subsistence for hundreds of Ecuadorian and Peruvian families that live near this area.

Mangrove Defenders

"The women work in shell extraction and actively participate in fishing associations, developing immense capacities for organization and distribution of time,"

says Hilda León, a fisherwoman who lives in Zarumilla, Tumbes, in northern Peru.

"Thanks to this work I have been able to provide for my 11 children. Every morning I go out to the mangrove swamp to do my routine, as long as the tide is low".

she says. On a daily basis she extracts 100 black shells that give her an income of approximately 12 dollars.

“Entering the mangrove gives me life and strength. Even though some people say I should change activities because of my age, it's not something I consider because the relationship I have with the mangrove is unique. It welcomes me, takes care of me, and with its roots it nourishes me with vitality and joy.”

Hilda, who is very close to the average retirement age, remembers that her love for the mangrove was initiated by her mother and father when she was very young. In her family, she was taught that she is part of nature, so she takes care of the mangrove and herself as if they were one.

"Sometimes there are loggers who want to damage the mangrove forest. I don't hesitate to protect it. Many times, I've been threatened by my position, but I won't stop, if I have to die it must be at the foot of the mangrove,"

she says firmly.

Throughout the years, Hilda has had the opportunity to travel to other countries to participate in events and meetings telling the stories of the Zarumilla women’s work of shell extraction in the mangroves.

Hilda always promotes women's leadership and empowerment because she knows first-hand the important role, they play in the entire fishing value chain. It is estimated that in the province of Zarumilla, there are around 100 people formally dedicated to the extraction of shells and crabs.

Among them there is a group of about 40 women who dedicate themselves to this work, of which 15 do it daily. Hilda belongs to the association of Puerto Peru that include 20 extractors, 10 of which are women. Out of these 10 women, only Hilda has reached the level of leadership and decision making, but there is still a long way to go to achieve equality.

She recognizes that women participation should be better valued since giving a voice to all the people involved makes it possible to address situations from a diversity of needs. In this way, they can work together for the social, economic and environmental benefits of the mangrove ecosystems. The diversity of experiences and perspectives when making decisions and proposing solutions is enriched with the participation of both women and men.

To contribute to a gender equal management of the mangrove resources of Peru and Ecuador, both countries have been working with the Coastal Fisheries Initiative (CFI) in Latin America. The CFI project on gender follows the gender-sensitive Global Environmental Fund (GEF) approach, which seeks results that address gender norms, roles and access to resources as necessary to achieve other project objectives, by providing disaggregated data and recognizing the differences.

This Peru-Ecuador initiative works with women who, like Hilda, are driving change in their communities to conserve the oceans and generate more opportunities for growth with equality. Their ideas and leadership are contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, more specifically goal 2: zero hunger, goal 5: gender equality, goal 12: responsible production and consumption, and specially goal 14: life below water.