In Spain, as in most countries, fishing remains a highly male-dominated sector. Nevertheless, women play a significant role within the industry, particularly in Galicia. Indeed, this region accounts for 67% of female employment in the Spanish fisheries sector. Shellfishing, and especially the profession of mariscadora, has historically been carried out by women. Despite their essential contribution, however, their work has long remained socially disregarded due to the lack of recognition, visibility, and information surrounding their role. At the same time, fisheries resources and related activities are constantly evolving and facing increasing challenges, notably environmental, climatic, and political ones. These transformations directly affect coastal communities and those whose livelihoods depend on marine ecosystems. Existing literature on gender perspectives in fisheries is therefore essential for analysing these issues, not only from a socio-economic standpoint but also in order to develop a broader understanding of the role of humans within marine ecosystems (Kleiber and Harris 2015: 558). This is all the more important given that, as Frangoudes et al. (2019, p. 120) argue, gender equality should be considered an integral component of sustainable fisheries. Several studies have shown that the profession of mariscadora is deeply rooted in patriarchal dynamics. 

On the one hand, it “fits perfectly with the socially established patterns of gender roles”, as it enables women to reconcile paid work with domestic responsibilities. Mariscadoras generally work close to home, often on a part-time basis, and require relatively limited investment in equipment. These characteristics allow them to fulfil their socially assigned roles as mothers and homemakers, fitting into a broader logic of care work. This division of labour reflects classic patterns of gender discrimination in which women’s roles as caregivers and providers of family support are prioritised over their identities and recognition as fish workers. Shellfish gathering exists in two forms: on foot and afloat. Traditionally, shellfish gathering afloat is carried out by men operating small boats, whereas shellfish gathering on foot is mainly performed by women using rudimentary tools and without boats (Mahou, 2008). 

However, a significant shift has been observed. Due in part to the professionalisation of shellfish gathering and the consequences of the 2008 economic crisis, this activity has undergone a process of masculinisation. While increasing numbers of men have entered shellfish gathering on foot, the opposite trend has not occurred. Women have not gained greater access to highly masculinised activities such as extractive fishing, highlighting the persistence of gender inequalities within the sector. Indeed, the proportion of women working aboard fishing vessels remained extremely low, at only 4.1% between 2011 and 2017 (Ocupesca, 2011; 2017). 

This reveals a one-way process: more men now work as shellfish gatherers on foot, yet women continue to be largely excluded from more prestigious and better-paid fishing occupations. The sea/male versus land/female dichotomy reflects a discriminatory structure in gender relations (Broullón Acuña, 2011). Because extractive fishing requires longer working hours but offers higher incomes, it has become increasingly masculinised, leading to a strong male appropriation of public fishing spaces, including shellfish banks, while fishing vessels remain almost exclusively male environments. This situation can be partly explained by public policies that continue to produce unequal opportunities for men and women within the fisheries sector. In any case, further research is needed in this as yet largely unexplored area, namely the integration of men into activities traditionally carried out by women in the fishing industry.

Source : Piñeiro-Antelo, M. A. & Santos, X. M. (2021). Shellfishing on foot and the road to defeminization in Galicia (Spain). International Journal of the Commons, 20(4), 341–354. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40152-021-00228-z. 

Pauline Bartholomé, Fundación Condado de Taboada