Editorial: Working in fisheries - fish and aquaculture: a celebration of women's contribution and experience

How did you get into your area of work? 2. Did you perceive there were barriers for women during your studies and/or subsequent working life? 3. What would you say to women and gender minorities who are thinking of working in fisheries or aquaculture-from working in the field, industry, management, or science?We were particularly interested to hear how fisheries and aquaculture research has (or has not) changed over time, about recent work in the field, how research has had a real-world impact and whether organisations are now welcoming more women and gender minorities through individual stories and through quantitative surveys. Some provided unique regional and generational stories from which context-specific recommendations were made. Not surprisingly, gender related barriers to career development are still widespread, and while some organizations, including those in industry, are now welcoming more women and gender minorities into this area, we still have a long way to go.We hope, however, that by reading these stories and focusing on the recommendations made progress in the workplace around gender equity and equality will be made.In this Research Topic (RT) we focus on the blue carbon economy and particularly on the experiences of women working in fisheries and aquaculture. The history of women's contributions in these industries is a long one, both as industry participants and in scientific research. We have encouraged contributions from authors of different ages and different continents. We received a rich catch of essays from women working in government institutes, universities, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), the fishing industry, and in private companies. These articles, some based on systematic surveys and others describing individual experiences, showcase the changes experienced first-hand over the past decades. Although the historical contexts are similar in many ways, there are also important cultural differences.Women have always played a role in securing food and other valuable products from the oceans. Women work as pearl divers, in seaweed/macroalgae and shellfish harvesting, shucking shellfish, salting/drying fish, and repairing nets. Women are shipowners and run the market stalls selling ocean foods. Women produce and analyze research data enabling science-based management of fisheries and conservation, and as activists women communicate and organize public and government actions to promote and protect the blue carbon economy.We celebrate this amazing work through this collection of opinion articles, but we also hear in the personal narratives about the gender bias, and lack of opportunity that has occurred in the last decadesand continues to this day. Several authors have written about the persistence of career road blocks and the need to redefine leadership style (Russell 2025(Russell , doi.org/10.3389/focsu.2025.1600547).1600547). A few perceived no disadvantages being a woman or they noted a positive shift toward inclusivity. The implication and visibility of women has clearly increased in recent decades, but there is still room for progress (Trenkel 2025(Trenkel , doi.org/10.3389/focsu.2025.1535602).1535602). Asking the authors to highlight changes that afford women more opportunity in this blue economy has been a key focus of this RT.Seafood has always been culturally and economically vital around the world, and women's roles in these traditions has made significant contributions. There are instances where women have historically been equal partners to their menfolk even in capture fisheries, such as in Vietnam, Sri Lanka and some countries in South America, West Africa, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific. In some of these countries they are hailed as skillful navigators, and in some others, they also participate in the construction of sea-going craft (Nayak 1992). Globally seafood has been culturally and economically vital and traditional fisheries such as those for Maori, have been extensive, sophisticated, and involved traditional cultural practices (Haukamau Enright, 2024). Scholarship programmes have supported Māori capability and potential. (Thomas et al. 2025(Thomas et al. , doi: 10.1080(Thomas et al. /07294360.2024.2393118).2393118). Mexican women in small artisanal fishing businesses skillfully blend traditional practices with innovative conservation strategies to reduce bycatch, protect endangered species, and build sustainable livelihoods (Rousso et al. this RT 2025, (Trenkel 2025(Trenkel , However, it is that there was a lack of about the of and 2025, in et ( many of the women the of fieldwork for women with family only some were made by other authors such was not affected do not have or such as this had were The relevance of or not family in the women life but it is how this has been very by several of the all present studies that highlight the impact that have on women in the sector, recognition of their knowledge and experience and their role in the management and economic value of their Examples from (Rousso et al. 2025, et 2025, New Zealand (Russell , 2025, Spain 2025, and the et et , all how recognized and women's and to develop strategies for sustainable fisheries management. that support gender equality in the fisheries and aquaculture industries that support for women in these businesses is an to reduce 2025, et 2025, 2025, RT of the of the in and Fisheries of the Fisheries et 2025, we share many we are of the same career and a similar work experience or research We recognized many of the and described by the contributors to this Their and into the blue carbon economy with some of our experiences and with all of our for the needs all the to the we and to this we need to include more women, women who support women, and men who are up for the representation of women in fisheries research, and in the fishing industry is The recommendations in this and in the RT articles are in there is increased gender equity to women to to both the and of the and not fisheries and aquaculture research is to change to the commercial related barriers to career development are still widespread, and while some including the industry are now welcoming more women into this area, we still have a long way to 1. toward in Fisheries and fisheries to shift on contributions of women and in fisheries the work of women in fisheries and of gender and men and women on equity and traditional gender to support career leadership development and initiatives. visibility of women in the of fishing and aquaculture. career support and on and and participation in that women's economic opportunities in processing and women to opportunities through innovative business and networks.