Fisherwomen at work

For generations, it was mistakenly viewed as a man’s world. Women have always been there, but fisheries and aquaculture is now seeing a surge in women starting their own businesses in all areas of the sector.

Today, more than 50 million women are involved in fisheries and aquaculture around the world and their contributions to household incomes and communities cannot be overlooked.

Take, for example, Muzna Saif Rashid Al Hatmi from the Sultanate of Oman.  She always dreamed of starting her own business. After graduating from university with a degree in food science and human nutrition, the 29-year-old young leader gained further training at the government-run Industrial Innovation Centre, which supports young entrepreneurs in diverse sectors, before establishing her own fish processing company.

“I think all of us can do it, but we have to tell ourselves that we can do it,” Muzna says.

Muzna now employs four women and is selling her products, such as fish paste, fish floss, fish cubes and stock powder made from sardines, shrimp and anchovies, in Oman and abroad.

“It is three years since we launched our small fisheries enterprise,” says Muzna. “We are working on marketing and gaining the trust of customers here in Oman. We are also working to get the products online in Gulf countries, the Middle East and East Asia.”

Muzna benefits from FAO’s Capacity Development of Coastal Women Associations project, which supports and strengthens the role of women in the processing sector of small-scale fisheries in the country. She gained administrative skills and strategic planning, helping her to develop a concrete business plan for her company.

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