From the Editor
Dear Friends,
This issue has articles from Asia, Latin America, Europe and Africa, touching on several concerns of women of fishing communities. It is well known, for instance, that in many countries around the world it is women who, by selling fish in fresh or processed forms, bring money from the fishery back to the family and the community. It is not surprising then that an important theme that runs across several of the articles in this issue is that of markets, and the constraints that women of fishing communities face in marketing their fishconstraints that include poor transport, lack of appropriate storage technology, poor access to credit, harassment by authorities, including at border checkposts, unduly stringent quality control regulations, inadequate market facilities and high market taxes.
It is encouraging to hear of how women of fishing communities are organizing to deal with some of these constraints. We learn about how women shrimp sellers in Mexico have organized and are beginning to have their voices heard, particularly by government officials. It is as encouraging to hear of the wonderful effort by women from a fishing community in the Netherlands to revive their local economy, with the support of local authorities, simply by selling fresh fish caught locally and by reviving consumer interest in traditional fish recipes and flavours. In an age where food is increasingly delinked’ from where it is produced, and is often purchased off supermarket shelves in pre-cooked and highly processed forms, this initiative is surely worthy of emulationespecially as it also appears to make good business sense!
We also carry the Statement from the Asian Regional Consultation on Women in Fisheries, which was held in Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia from 11 to 14 August 2004. The statement, while drawing attention to the ongoing patriarchal paradigm of development that puts profit before life and is based on the exploitation of nature and the disrespect of life processes, stressed the importance of working with a feminist perspective in creating alternatives and putting into play processes that are just, that challenge caste, class and patriarchy, and that are based on the sustainable use of resources. The statement also unequivocally opposed the way in which poor women are being used as banks of cheap, unprotected labour in fish processing plants and other industries. The article from Pakistan illustrates this point by highlighting the poor working conditions of women working in warrahsfish processing shedsand the poor implementation of existing labour laws.
As always, we look forward to articles, news and views from you. Please send these in by 15 February 2005 for inclusion in the next issue of Yemaya. In the meantime, Season’s Greetings and a Happy New Year!
