Dr. Mina Hori from Kochi University delivered a public lecture entitled: “Women in fisheries in Kochi, Japan” on December 27, 2023, at the IFRDMD Building in Palembang, Indonesia. More than 50 participants were in attendance, including fisheries faculty students from several universities in Indonesia, NGOs, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries staff, and IFRDMD.
Dr. Mina shared her experience in fisheries socioeconomics, including small-scale fisheries, fish trade resource management, and fisheries policy. In her lecture, Dr. Mina explained gender equality in Japan, where most fisherwomen are wives of self-employed fishers. However, in aquaculture, more than 70% of fishers are women. Women are involved in fishing, housework, childcare, and maintenance activities. She also informed that the aging and nuclearization of families had exacerbated Japan’s women in fishery decline.
The participants were keen to ask questions, and the discussion was lively with ideas to enhance the role of women, especially in inland fisheries, to provide a significant role for their family livelihood.