Worldwide, small-scale fisheries (SSF) are an important source of food and livelihoods for rural communities and contribute substantially to national economies. Women play crucial roles in these fisheries, yet their contributions are largely invisible, often ignored and unrecognized. We conducted household and focus group surveys to examine the role of indigenous Fijian (iTaukei) women in SSF, documenting fishing practices and contributions to household food security and income. Our results reinforced several traditional views, such as iTaukei women preferentially fishing closer to their villages; but also challenged other assumptions with women fishing a wider range of habitats (from inland rivers to the open ocean) and species than previously described, and many using a boat and fishing with men. In addition to gleaning for invertebrates and seaweed, women also caught over 100 species of fish. Women fished primarily for subsistence, emphasizing their significant contribution to household food security. Although almost half of the women sold part of their catch to supplement household incomes, they also engaged in other income earning livelihoods, and therefore were not solely dependent on fisheries. Of concern was the high targeting of nursery areas for fish and invertebrate species by women fishers, and species with low spawning potential ratios. Given the level of engagement in, and contributions to fisheries, the inclusion of iTaukei women fishers in fisheries planning and management is critical for ensuring the sustainability of SSF in Fiji. Furthermore, empowering women for full participation in fisheries and lifting them out of poverty requires a re-consideration of traditional gender norms in rural communities, which are already shifting and evolving.

在世界范围内，小规模渔业（SSF）是农村社区粮食和生计的重要来源，并为国民经济做出了重要贡献。妇女在这些渔业中发挥着至关重要的作用，但她们的贡献在很大程度上是看不见的，往往被忽视和未被认可。我们进行了家庭和焦点小组调查，以调查土著斐济（iTaukei）妇女在小规模渔业中的作用，记录捕捞活动以及对家庭粮食安全和收入的贡献。我们的结果加强了iTaukei等几种传统观点妇女优先在靠近村庄的地方捕鱼；但同时也挑战了其他假设，即女性捕捞的栖息地（从内陆河流到远洋）和物种比以前描述的范围更广，许多人乘船钓鱼并与男性一起钓鱼。除了收集无脊椎动物和海藻外，妇女还捕捞了100多种鱼。妇女主要是为了维持生计而捕鱼，强调她们对家庭粮食安全的重大贡献。尽管将近一半的妇女出售了部分渔获物以补充家庭收入，但她们还从事其他创收的生计活动，因此并不仅仅依靠渔业。令人关切的是，女渔民将育苗区定为鱼类和无脊椎动物物种的目标，以及产卵率低的物种。鉴于参与程度，在渔业计划和管理中，iTaukei女渔民对于确保斐济小规模渔业的可持续性至关重要。此外，赋予妇女权力以使其充分参与渔业并使其摆脱贫困，需要重新考虑农村社区中已经在变化和发展中的传统性别规范。