The Bangladesh Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project (BSCMFP), an initiative from the World Bank and Bangladesh’s Department of Fisheries, has provided emergency support for women fish farmers, restoring the local logistics chain and improving the food supply by getting fish to markets.
One-fifth of the world’s aquaculture production is centred in Bangladesh, where women hold about 1.4 million of an estimated 17.8 million jobs in the sector. The fisheries sector generates incomes and livelihoods for 3.5 million people in the coastal areas.
Women in Bangladesh have been deeply engaged in aquaculture production and value chain activities. Before Covid-19, this consistent work made vital differences in their lives, helping to sustain their families and boost livelihoods. The work can be a source of empowerment and it is often the first means of livelihood for rural women. However, the pandemic led to the collapse of many family fishing businesses. Many women told BSCMFP researchers that the pandemic had placed their families in more precarious conditions as fish prices dropped and feed became unaffordable, if it arrived at all.
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https://thefishsite.com/articles/world-bank-project-helps-women-fish-farmers-in-bangladesh-recover-from-covid-19-losses