Women’s Roles in Fisheries Governance in Ban Laem, Phetchaburi Province, Thailand

抄録

In the past, men have been played key role in the way of life of small-scale fishers. Because of their physical condition is more proper than women. Therefore, the women are mainly participating in fish processing and marketing. At present, participation of women in fisheries industry has increased day by day, particularly as a labor force in fisheries production sector. In this study, women in Ban Panern, a fishing village in Laem Pak Bia sub-district, Ban Laem district, Phetchaburi province was selected to examine the women roles that contributing to fisheries governance. Using key informant interviews and participant observation was carried out from August to September 2011. The results showed that, the roles of women in this fishing village were more or less the same of women’s role in the third world. These roles are classified into 3 categories, i.e., motherhood role, labor in production role and community management role. Most of them have been involved in all three categories particularly, contribution to the fishery management in their community. They have participated in many activities that relating to public utility development, they have established and conducted a fish central market in the village in order to solve the unfair price of aquatic animal problem of the fishers. These demonstrated that, women have a high potential in strengthen the capability of fishing community in fisheries governance. The success of fisheries governance will lead to better livelihood of fishing households and a sustainable of their fisheries.