The “Women in the Blue Economy” report is an international research effort led by NOVA School of Law, Leading Women for the Ocean and partners from Cape Verde and Japan. It spotlights the under-recognised contributions of women in ocean sectors, including small-scale fisheries and shipping, and proposes evidence-based policy recommendations for inclusion and empowerment.
Why it matters
- Women are essential to the resilience of maritime economies, yet their work is consistently undercounted and undervalued.
- Gender inclusion in ocean governance and policy leads to stronger, fairer, and more sustainable outcomes.
- From formal leadership to informal economies, women are already shaping the future of the blue economy.
What the Report Shows
- Cross-country research in Portugal, Cape Verde and Japan uncovers how formal equality laws often fail to tranlsate into real-life opportunities.
- Informal systems, like Cape Verde’s “totocaixa” credit networks and powerful tools of economic agency.
- Sexual harassment, stigma and lack of recognition persist across sectors and geographies, but women are organising and adapting.
What Needs to Happen Next
- Gender-disaggregated data must be prioritised.
- Maritime infrastructure, policies, and decision-making processes must account of women’s lived experiences.
- Women’s collective voice must be recognised and resourced in sector governance.
Read the REPORT
Read the SUMMARY OF THE REPORT