Participatory fisheries monitoring and gender: an example from Timor-Leste

In small-scale fisheries management, the significance of
participation is widely recognised but we are still learning
how this can be better operationalised to include different
groups, such as women. Participatory monitoring is one
tool that has been used to increase participation in fisheries
management, as it can create many benefits, such as
increasing community engagement in marine management,
generating data for data-poor fisheries, and empowering
fishing communities. Although most participatory
monitoring studies have focused on men monitoring their
fishing activities, evidence from studies examining women’s
increased participation in broader fisheries management
suggests that monitoring programs should also incorporate
gender-inclusive approaches. This article presents key
findings from a systematic literature review of gender and
participatory monitoring in the context of community-based
fisheries management and then summarises the results of a
participatory photography project conducted by women
doing fisheries monitoring in Timor-Leste, which explored
some of the same themes. These studies emphasise the
importance of considering gender in participatory fisheries
monitoring programme design and implementation and
valuing participants, perspectives and experiences.