Handbooks for fisheries managers to address the social dimensions of seafood production in Pacific Island countries

Fisheries and aquaculture are not only topics for biological study. It is people who catch fish or farm them in aquaculture, and the positive and negative impacts of fishing and aquaculture are felt by communities. There are human rights and labour rights issues in seafood industries, and also gender equality issues. But most people working in fisheries and aquaculture have biological training and are not well able to understand or manage the social dimensions of their activities. 

FASS marine social science researchers worked with collaborating organisations in Pacific Islands countries, where fisheries and aquaculture are really important sources of food and employment, to translate the social research about social dimensions of seafood production, into practical advice on how to deal with the social dimensions of their work.

The Pacific Handbook for Human Rights, Gender Equity and Social Inclusion in Tuna Industries (2023) and the Pacific Handbook for Gender Equity and Social Inclusion in Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture (2021) are illustratively tailored guides designed to assist fisheries practitioners in national agencies, the private sector, training institutions and civil society organisations to better understand and apply human rights and social diversity principles. 

The Handbooks consist of standalone modules that cover a wide range of thematic areas across industries from the sea to the shore and connected social impacts on communities, the policy, science and management sphere and the importance of inclusive stakeholder engagement processes. The Handbooks communicate findings from social research with Pacific examples, visuals, individual stories, lessons learnt, good practices and hands-on tools such as checklists or action points, recommendations and tips to enable easy understanding and facilitate application of research findings.

Chief investigator: Professor Kate Barclay

Funding body: Pacific European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP), implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC)

Project websites: 
Tuna Handbook
Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Handbook

Featured publication(s): 
Barclay K., Vunisea A., Streeter M., Mauli S. and Makhoul N. (eds). 2023. Pacific handbook for human rights, gender equity and social inclusion in tuna industries. Noumea, New Caledonia: Pacific Community (279 pp).

Barclay K., Leduc B., Mangubhai, S. and Donato-Hunt C. (eds.). 2019. Pacific handbook for gender equity and social inclusion in coastal fisheries and aquaculture. First edition. Noumea, New Caledonia: Pacific Community (80 pp). Second edition published 2021.