In the vast, often male-dominated world of marine spatial planning, a new study is making waves by highlighting the importance of a gender-sensitive approach. Researchers from UC Santa Barbara and their collaborators have published findings in the journal Marine Policy that could reshape how we think about ocean use and management. The study, led by geospatial developer Abigail Vath Meyer, sheds light on how men and women interact with marine spaces differently, and why that matters for equitable planning and governance.
Meyer and her team didn’t set out to challenge the status quo. They were simply collecting ocean use data as part of global marine spatial planning efforts when they noticed something intriguing. “Obviously, gender can come into any facet of life, but marine spatial planning is not often looked at through that lens,” Meyer noted. Using the SeaSketch application, developed in the McClintock Lab, they gathered data from three case studies in the Maldives, the Azores, and Belize. What they found was eye-opening.
Women, on average, were using the ocean closer to shore than men. This isn’t just about where they fish, but also about how they value and interact with marine spaces. Women in these countries were more active in indirect ways, like gear preparation, catch processing, and subsistence fishing. They valued areas not just for fishing, but also for cultural and community purposes, and as safe zones for their children.
Here’s where it gets interesting. These informal uses are harder to capture than commercial ones, leading to an undervaluation of women’s ocean uses. This matters because a marine area valued for noneconomic benefits, like culture and community, could be more compatible with a marine protected area designation. Meanwhile, an area heavily used for commercial purposes would spark a tougher conversation about marine protection.
In the countries studied, men dominate the data. They’re the most intense and most represented users of the ocean. But this new focus on gender-equitable marine spatial planning has already led to changes. Belize, for instance, conducted a second round of ocean use surveys to include more female representation.
The study also found that female recreational fishers around Santa Maria Island in the Azores showed more awareness of and compliance with marine protected areas than their male counterparts. This could be a game-changer for engaging fishers and building partnerships around existing marine protected area networks.
So, what does this all mean for the future of marine spatial planning? For starters, it’s a wake-up call to avoid a “gender-blind” approach. Specific gender roles vary greatly between regions and intersect with marital status, wealth, and nationality. Policymakers need to consider these nuances to ensure equitable and effective marine spatial planning.
This study isn’t just about fairness; it’s about practicality. By understanding and valuing the different ways men and women use the ocean, we can make better decisions about marine protection and management. It’s a call to action for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders to look beyond the obvious and consider the often-invisible ways women interact with marine spaces.
The findings also spark a broader debate about who gets to decide what happens in our oceans. If women are undervalued and underrepresented in ocean use data, their voices are likely undervalued and underrepresented in marine spatial planning. This study is a step towards changing that, and it’s high time we paid attention. After all, the ocean is for everyone, and it’s about time our marine spatial planning reflected that.