Leading up to International Women’s Day on March 8th, we highlight the contributions of women around the world. Although they make up half of the seafood workforce, women are underrepresented in decision-making, and very few are in leadership roles. Until recently, conversations about seafood sustainability have focused on environmental responsibility, excluding social justice. The Seafood and Gender Equality (S.A.G.E) initiative launched in October aims to achieve gender equality in at least 75% of global seafood production by 2030, a lofty goal, but according to founder Julie Kuchepatov, an attainable one. After all, there is no better time to ignite the conversation about gender inequality in the industry, says Kuchepatov. According to The International Organisation for Women in the Seafood Industry, women’s role in the industry is significant, yet often undervalued and overlooked, meaning that women are often found in low-paid roles rather than at the top. The global pandemic has catalyzed massive shifts in how business is done, and big decisions are being made. According to Kuchepatov, women must be involved in making those decisions in order to achieve social and environmental responsibility in our food supply chains. She stresses that the industry is evolving and ready for this change. Diverse voices in the industry will bring increased profitability, higher morale in the workplace, and stronger leadership. Largely a one-woman show since its early days, S.A.G.E has been bolstered by unprecedented amounts of community backing: “The support I’ve received has been incredible,” she says, “it proves that this is necessary”.
Sustainability standards focus more on environmental factors
When a fishery is evaluated for sustainability certification against standards set forth by one of the leading certification bodies, such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), several environmental factors are assessed. If a fishery has environmental sustainability shortcomings, it is enrolled in a Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) to help address those issues.