Empower women
WOMEN seafarers at the Fiji Fish Marketing Group Ltd (FFMGL) were visited by two executive members of the Steering Fiji Women Seafarers Association (SFWSA) last week.
Executive members of the association, Captain Sheryne Kanawale and Captain Ofa Qarase visited the ladies who were employed by FFMGL after its general manager Mathew Southwick had reached out to the association requesting for assistance in mentoring the women seafarers.
“We did not think twice about reaching out to this group of women seafarers because that is what the association is here for and to assist any female seafarer who may need advice on education, work or just needs a mentor,” SFWSA executive member Mere Naleba said.
“When the association received the call from Mr Southwick we did not hesitate to meet with the nine girls working for FFMGL, this is also in line with the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) stance on empowering women in this sector.”
The association is happy with the direction that Fiji Fish had taken on empowering women working on fishing vessels.
“The fact that a vessel had sailed on Saturday with nine females on board is quite extraordinary, and we are grateful to Mr Southwick and the management of FFMGL for trusting these girls,” she said.
“The response we got from the management of FFMGL was encouraging especially when the hard work of these girls did not go unnoticed.”
She said the IMO recognises fishing as the second most dangerous profession in the world.
“It is estimated that thousands of fishers lose their lives annually and here in Fiji we have nine brave women taking up the challenge, there are many challenges that can be named from this work for example hauling nets which can be exhausting, but of course nothing is impossible if there is teamwork,” she said.
It was the first time that SFWSA members have met up with the FFMGL women seafarers.
“We are excited to be working alongside these girls in mentoring them to be successful masters one day,” she said.
“There are still a few areas that needs to be improved for women to work comfortable alongside men on board vessel but the response from our local male seafarers have been overwhelming and here in Fiji, we haven’t had any complaints about harassment or other offences that might undermine the work of our females on board vessels.
“Working conditions and the environment are some of the areas that needs to be improved but overall the comradeship on vessels between females and males is to be commended.”
The vessel had a full female crew except the master (captain) when it set sail the past week.