Roles of Women in Fishery and Community Development in Japan: Through Empowerment for Women's Entrepreneurship

Research PaperWomen in fishing communities must work very hard on fishing and marketing activities together with housekeeping and child-care. However, their social and economic status is vulnerable. Women are often excluded from any process of decision-making as regards fisheries management and community development. They are not usually allowed to join the membership of a fishery cooperative association (FCA), because of the tight framework of fishing rights. Small-scale enterprises established by women in fishing communities are increasing in number, as fishing households have recently been pressed in economic terms because of the decrease of fishery resources and the severe decline in fish prices. Women’s groups are involved in the processing of under-utilized fishery resources. Their activity is regarded as local-resource-based businesses of an appropriate scale. Women’s entrepreneurship is an additional income source to fishery households, and provides women with job opportunities. A large number of women's groups have increasingly appeared all over the country. The government supports these groups, and prepares women's empowerment programs that enhance levels of women's capacity building, thereby reducing the gender-related difference presently existing in fishing communities. This paper seeks to evaluate the impact of women's entrepreneurship on local communities through a case study in Japan. The results of the analysis will suggest how government should solve peculiar gender problems in fishing communities, and re-build the present framework of policy for fishery and community development