Cristina Mañas, manager of Palamós’ OPP-91, has participated this week in Women Together in Fisheries, an international event held from 5 to 7 October in Tunisia, bringing together women working in the fisheries sector from across the Mediterranean.
Organised by WWF, the event brought together more than 50 women from 10 countries to share experiences and knowledge from diverse fishing communities and address some of the challenges faced by women working in the sector.
Over the three days, discussions focused on the role of women throughout the fisheries value chain, from fishing to fish processing and marketing. Other topics included access to resources and new economic opportunities, participation in fisheries management, adaptation to climate change and the transmission of traditional knowledge.
The event addresses a reality shared by many fishing communities across the Mediterranean: despite women’s significant contribution to the sector, their work does not always receive sufficient recognition, and their representation in decision-making and leadership positions remains limited.
In this context, Women Together in Fisheries aims to strengthen women’s participation, encourage the exchange of experiences between different regions and build networks that can help turn shared needs and challenges into new initiatives and opportunities for the sector.
The participation of the Palamós Fishermen’s Guild in this event provided an opportunity to share insights into the local fisheries sector while learning from the experiences of women and fishing communities from other parts of the Mediterranean. It was a valuable opportunity to bring together different perspectives and knowledge to address the future challenges facing the fishing industry.
