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Abstract

Small-scale or artisanal fisheries support rural economies, generate local employment, and improve nutrition and food security in and beyond rural coastal communities. Guyana is a coastal country rich in finfish and crustacean fauna, where rural fishing communities are directly dependent on the employment and nutrition generated by the artisanal fishery. A combination of overfishing and mismanagement are degrading fish stocks, and imperil the dependence of Guyana’s coastal communities on the economic, social, and cultural values generated by fishing activities. As these problems are addressed, it is critical to examine the roles that women occupy in fisheries work as seafood vendors, processors, smokers/driers and harvesters to ensure gender equitable solutions are developed for everyone involved in the fishery. This study utilized a sustainable livelihoods approach to examine the challenges and opportunities that confront women fish workers in Guyana. While it was found that women fill essential roles, ensuring their communities have access to fresh and nutritious seafood, fisheries management in Guyana generally overlooks women’s roles in the artisanal fishery. The findings of this research illuminate that women’s work is undervalued and under-supported. The implications of these findings show that as women face these challenges, they struggle to achieve a sustainable livelihood, and even seek livelihoods outside of fishing work. Policy changes, community empowerment strategies, and increased State resources for women’s livelihoods are necessary to support these women in their pursuit of a sustainable livelihood, and to guarantee continued access to affordable seafood to rural households in Guyana.