Empowering women as agents of change in hilsa conservation
Photo: Jati Mallick/UNDP Bangladesh
Hilsa fisheries (Tenualosa ilisha) are integral to socioeconomic prosperity in Bangladesh. They are a cultural icon, a local nutritious food source and a primary source of livelihoods for many of the country’s rural communities. However, unsustainably managed stocks have led to a sharp decline in hilsa fisheries, with rural women bearing much of the brunt.
Despite the Government of Bangladesh’s attempts to reverse widespread declines, they have experienced little success imposing a top-down regulatory approach or by imposing legal repercussions for fishing violations.
To try a different approach, USAID implemented the Enhanced Coastal Fisheries in Bangladesh (ECOFISH) activity, which aimed to improve the ecological integrity of the Meghna River by developing co-management approaches and empowering women to be agents of change in conservation. Women were assigned influential community roles as part of the project and were able to better encourage their male family members to abide by fishing regulations.
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