Anguilla 
Antigua and Barbuda 
Grenada 
Bahamas 
Barbados 
Belize 
Dominica 
Guyana 
Haiti 
Jamaica 
Montserrat 
St. Kitts and Nevis 
St. Lucia 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines 
Suriname 
Trinidad and Tobago 
Turks and Caicos 
Gender Perspectives in Social, Blue and Climate Justice
Maria Pena and Patrick McConney
Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES)
University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus, Barbados
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ABSTRACT
Climate justice, blue justice and social justice are closely intertwined in small island developing states (SIDS) societies, villages and households engaged in small-scale fisheries (SSF). The English-speaking Caribbean exemplifies this at a time when fisherfolk, perceiving themselves as marginalised, are concerned about their invisibility in blue economy and climate change initiatives. Fisherfolk fear that large development investments lead to further marginalisation of SSF, including the roles that women play. Women predominate in postharvest seafood processing, distribution, and marketing in SSF. These value-added economic activities are often overlooked in official statistics and women may benefit from little to no social protection as self-employed entrepreneurs and fish workers. Women face challenges due to the nature of postharvest work combined with their domestic household responsibilities. Yet, they seldom speak of issues related to their domestic responsibilities when they discuss their fishery work. This is problematic. This paper examines these and other gender perspectives in social, blue and climate justice. Gender perspectives need to be better incorporated into SSF in CRFM Member States. Negative impacts on women’s health and well-being can extend to their family and community, impairing a country’s ability to cope with shocks, whether from climate or the global economy. There are potential impacts on food security and nutrition.
HOW TO CITE: Pena, M. and P. McConney, 2026. Gender Perspectives in Social, Blue and Climate Justice. Contribution 7.2, p502-516 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical Papers. Presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023. CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=943
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