The Redmar II project in Spain aims to address the gender gap in fisheries and the prevailing gender stereotypes that still prevent women from working on board vessels, even when they are fully qualified.
The project sets out to improve integration for women in the Spanish maritime and fisheries sectors, with recruitment of young women seen as a way to resolve the ongoing issue of generational replacement.
Across the EU as a whole, 3% of the crews of fishing vessels are women, and in Spain the figure is just 1%.
The beneficiary of the project Fundamar Foundation, which represents employers and fishing and shellfish gathering unions, is has long promoted equal opportunities for women in the traditionally male-dominated fisheries sector.
The Redmar project is the first in Spain that examines the employment of women on fishing vessels. It has three connected objectives, primarily to provide more women with employment on fishing vessels, and then to extend and promote the network between vessel owners, sector associations, educational and gender equality organisations established in 2013, and finally to improve the online exchange of good practices in relation to equal opportunities, safety on board, and environmental issues such as waste management
A key obstacle is related to the design and structure of fishing vessels, which have historically been designed solely for men. This is why the first phase of the project covered safety on board, and the working environment. It looked into the necessary structural changes on board fishing vessels, including accommodation and hygiene facilities.
Towards the end of the project, it became evident that women who want to work in the fishing sector face another barrier – they simply don’t get opportunities to work on board.
The project worked to raise awareness, created links between stakeholders and established best practices to be applied to the sector through workshops, active promotion of women employment on board and network building activities. As a result, the Redmar project has shown that changes and improvements are possible in the sector and that women with a maritime and fisheries education are a valuable asset.
The professional best practices learned during the project were adopted by 18 public and private entities, including the Women’s Network in the fisheries sector in Spain, the Shipowners’ Association of Vigo (ARVI), the Spanish Fisheries Confederation (CEPESCA) and the Women’s Foundation, and during the implementation of Redmar II, three women were appointed to positions as deck officers on fishing vessels.
As a result, employment opportunities have increased and more and more fishing companies are now interested in hiring female crew members.
While a great deal remains to be done, Redmar II is seen as having achieved a great deal, supported by the EU’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.
