In 2018, people around the globe are rallying around the International Women’s Day themes of Pressing for Progress’ and The time is now: Rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives’. But what do these calls mean for and in fisheries and aquaculture? Pressing for what? And transforming what and why? This post reflects on two answers to these questions. The first is about pressing to address gender data gaps to enhance the effectiveness of policy and practice. The second is about transformation as distinct from participation. In other words, it is about recognizing this as a call to level the playing field’ in fisheries and aquaculture, rather than an invitation for women to join the game’. Press here: Addressing gender data gaps The evidence is resounding that gender-inclusive approaches and gender equality is good for economic outcomes. The International Finance Corporation of the World Bank, for example, concludes that gender-smart solutions can deliver benefits ranging from a better talent pipeline to a positive investment climate that creates markets for all closing gaps between men and women in the private sector leads to business benefits and better development outcomes alike.’ Yet inclusive and equality-promoting growth in any sector, including fisheries and aquaculture, requires reliable data that isat a minimumsex-disaggregated. At present, this is missing or limited. That is why one key area in pressing for progress in 2018 is closing gender data gaps. This means at least committing to collecting sex-disaggregated data. Moreover, it means gathering and analyzing information about both men’s and women’s aspirations, experiences, needs, risks, barriers (including gender dynamics) and opportunities. This includes generating insights into if, when and in what conditions these are the same or different, and why and what the implications are for equitable and effective policy and practice. Transforming what? Moving beyond participation In recent years, policy and practice in the sector have sought to reach women and enable their participation in fisheries and aquaculture. This is evident from global initiatives such as the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries through to local interventions engaging women in homestead fish production, technical training programs or savings group opportunities. Yet while this focus on women’s involvement and participation is a necessary part of progressing towards an inclusive sector and thus the sector’s ability to contribute to the SDGs, it is not sufficient…