Talks spotlight role of fisherwomen

Hanoi (VNA) - A conference aimed at improving the living-standards of
millions of women working in the fisheries industry throughout Southeast Asia opened in Hanoi on Dec. 2.

"This event aims to point out the role of women in the sector and improve
their life by building up an action plan," said Nguyen Thu Hue, executive
director of Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD).
According to Nguyen Thi Hong Minh, former vice minister of Fisheries (now
part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), Vietnam ranks
eighth in world for fish and aquaculture exports, earning more than 4
billion USD so far this year, an increase of 24 percent on last year.

"Like in other countries, fisheries in Vietnam supply work for
millions of coastal farmers, 50 percent of them women," Minh said. However,
85 percent of workers in seafood processing factories are women.

"They seldom receive a high salary or chance of promotion as men do.
Female labourers in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture have to work very
hard, but their effort is not recognised by their own families or the
community," said Minh.

"I hope that the action plan will bring positive effects to all in the
industry, especially women, who will be the most affected if more fisheries
become unsustainable."

More than 60 representatives and experts from Cambodia , Indonesia , the
Philippines , Malaysia , Thailand and Vietnam gathered to discuss the
issues.

They will outline action points for gender equality at a round-table meeting
on Friday.

The conference is being held under the auspices of Southeast Asia Fish for
Justice (SEAFish), a regional network of non-government and small-scale
fisheries organisations, and the Marinelife Conservation and Community
Development (MCD) of Vietnam.-Enditem