World Women Fishers Day: Time for the Nation to Acknowledge Women’s Role at Sea
Members of the Puspita Bahari Women Fishers Community of Demak pose on a boat along the coastal area of Purworejo Village, Bonang District, Demak Regency. Photo: Sam
ARUSUTAMA.com – The declaration of November 5 as World Women Fishers Day marks a historic milestone in the long struggle of coastal women worldwide–including Masnuah, Secretary General of the Indonesian Women Fishers Association (PPNI) from Demak. She believes this recognition is the result of decades of effort by women fishers around the world in fighting for gender justice and professional identity.
According to Masnuah, despite there being around 3.9 million women fishers in Indonesia, official recognition of their profession remains minimal.
“The irony is, out of millions of women fishers, fewer than 100 are officially registered as fishers. The term fisher is still perceived as male-only, even though women play a vital role throughout the entire fisheries economy,” she emphasized on Thursday (Nov 6, 2025).
Masnuah explained that women fishers in Demak and other coastal areas are deeply involved in every aspect of fishing activities — from preparing fishing gear, going out to sea, processing catches, to marketing fishery products. However, their contributions are often overlooked in government policy-making.
She further highlighted the growing challenges faced by women fishers today, including coastal and marine privatization, fisheries industrialization, and large infrastructure projects that restrict women’s access to natural resources.
“We are witnessing the loss of our living space. The sea is our source of life,” said Masnuah, who also leads the Puspita Bahari Women Fishers Community of Demak.
In response to these challenges, PPNI has become a platform for women fishers to learn, unite in solidarity, and advocate for political recognition, equality, and protection of their rights.
“We want the government to see us not as ‘fishermen’s wives,’ but as true fishers who have the same rights and responsibilities,” she added.
Masnuah also drew attention to Law No. 7 of 2016 on the Protection and Empowerment of Fishers, which mentions the word women only once — and only in the context of household affairs. To her, this reveals the persistent gender gap in fisheries policy.
This year’s World Women Fishers Day celebration also marks the beginning of a five-week international campaign running until December 5, 2025. The movement aims to push for greater recognition of the identity and rights of Indonesian women fishers.
“It is time for the state to formally recognize women fishers as key actors in the fisheries production chain. Such recognition is essential — not only for achieving gender equality, but also for strengthening food security and reducing poverty in coastal communities,” Masnuah concluded. (Sam)
