Gender-based ocean uses and values
Implications for marine spatial planning
Bibliographic Data
Our study contributes to a more gender-sensitive approach to marine spatial planning, aiming for balanced, sustainable growth in the blue economy. It examined gendered ocean use patterns and their implications for equitable marine spatial planning. To document the distinct ways men and women interact with and value ocean spaces, we analyzed participatory mapping results from Ocean Use Surveys (OUS) conducted in three regions: the Maldives, the Azores, and Belize. The findings show that, globally, men dominate offshore activities like commercial fishing, whereas women’s activities are concentrated nearshore, often involving informal economic roles such as subsistence fishing, tourism, and cultural uses. Our analysis generated gender-specific heat maps highlighting areas of ocean use by sector and gender. This gender-disaggregated data revealed spatial and sectoral differences: in the Azores, women are more active in research and recreational fishing; in Belize, they engage in mariculture; and in the Maldives, they participate in more informal, small-scale, self-employed economies. We also addressed the gender gap in ocean data, a result of historic biases in data collection, which has led to undervaluing women’s contributions to the maritime economy and to gender-blind policies. The findings stress the need for gender-disaggregated data in marine planning to avoid exacerbating gender inequities and to ensure inclusive, effective policies. We recommend enhanced data practices that capture women’s oceanic contributions, advocating for mixed-gender survey teams and targeted outreach to reduce bias. Policymakers are encouraged to integrate these insights to support equitable marine governance, fostering inclusivity in ocean resource management. • In three regions studied, men and women use and value ocean space differently. • Ocean use surveys show men dominate offshore activities while women focus nearshore. • Gender-disaggregated data is vital for equitable, inclusive marine spatial planning. • Formalizing and valuing women’s nearshore roles can strengthen coastal economies
Environmental planning · Geography · Marine spatial planning · Coastal and Marine Management · Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies · International Maritime Law Issues · Geology · Oceanography
Gender and small‐scale fisheries
Fisher perceptions of Belize’s Managed Access program reveal overall support but need for improved enforcement
Economic development, marine protected areas and gendered access to fishing resources in a Polynesian lagoon
Women's fishing in Oceania
Understanding gender intersectionality for more robust ocean science
Gendering Marine Conservation
Women's changing productive practices, gender relations and identities in fishing through a critical feminisation perspective
Women and Children First
| Citation velocity | historical |
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| Highly cited | No |