It is early morning at Sirongo Beach, one of the many fish landing sites dotting the shores of Lake Victoria. The sun peeks over the lake’s horizon, casting golden reflections on the water. Traffic is already building on the roads leading to the landing sites, primarily groups of women carrying empty baskets. They will soon meet the fishing boats docking after a long night on the lake. From the heaps of freshly caught tilapia, Nile perch, and sardines, they will buy what they need, fill their baskets, and spend the rest of the morning preparing the fish in readiness for the market.
For Caroline Akinyi, a fishmonger from Seme, Kisumu County, the lake is a source of livelihood and a community anchor. Day after day, the 35-year-old mother of four works to support her family, balancing her catch and market responsibilities. Her life reflects the beauty and hardships of Lake Victoria, where thousands of women like her strive to make ends meet, often against significant odds.
Amidst the bustle at the beach, characterised by quibbling fishmongers and chanting as the fishermen row their boats ashore, a pervasive cultural practice lurks – jaboya – a transactional relationship where women are forced to engage in sexual relationships with fishermen to access fish. Many women fishmongers, often called mama samaki, depend on buying fish to sell in markets and villages. However, male fishermen, who control the supply, hold the power to access fish. Without access to loans or other financial tools to buy fish directly and no bargaining power, some women are left with the jaboya arrangement as their only option to secure fish for their business.
Tackling jaboya
Addressing jaboya has proved challenging but not impossible. Targeted interventions that empower women in fishing communities economically and socially are shifting the power balance, enabling women to access fish through more equitable and secure means. One such approach is cage fish farming. Traditionally sidelined in commercial fishing, women are taking the lead in cage fish farming. With fewer entry barriers and technical support, they are finding new ways to secure livelihoods.
In Suba South, Homa Bay County, I caught up with Eunice Auma, a cage fish farmer from Rasira Women Group. Smiling with pride, Auma speaks about the new venture. She is part of a bigger group of 400 women from the region who benefit from an empowerment project by Rio Fish courtesy of the Investing in Women in the Blue Economy (IIW-BEK) programme, a CAN $9.7 million initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF). The project provides funding, technical assistance, and access to resources, ensuring that women like Eunice have the means to operate viable, profitable fishing businesses. “We no longer rely on the fishermen to make a living,” Eunice beams. “Now, we can farm our fish and sell directly in the market, on our terms.”
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, women make up 28% of the primary sector workforce in aquaculture globally, 18% in fisheries, and an estimated 50% in the pre and post-harvest stages of the value chain. The African Union estimates that of the 12.3 million people working in Africa’s fisheries and aquaculture, only 27.3% are women. Their work, particularly in post-harvest areas like processing, is essential for food security and household income generation. However, their contributions often remain unrecognised and plagued with challenges due to gender-based constraints and traditional beliefs.
Empowering women in fishing communities
IIW-BEK supports women-owned enterprises and cooperatives in different blue economy value chains around Lake Victoria and Kenya’s coastal region. By providing capital, training, and other support, the programme helps women build financially sustainable businesses that reduce reliance on exploitative practices like jaboya. This empowerment is reshaping the social fabric of fishing communities. Women have gained agency, moving away from dependence on male-dominated fishing systems. They are becoming community leaders, catalysing social change, especially among fellow women and youth, and advocating for environmental conservation.
For the communities around the lake, cage fish farming has brought several benefits beyond financial gain. By reducing the need for extensive net-fishing trips, this practice minimises overfishing and allows fish populations to replenish. The cages create controlled environments where fish are sustainably bred, promoting healthier stocks and reducing the strain on the lake’s ecosystem. This has reduced pollution and habitat destruction caused by conventional fishing techniques, protecting both fish and surrounding wildlife.
Breaking down gender barriers and equipping women with financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills, initiatives like IIW-BEK are helping to diversify income streams in communities heavily reliant on fishing. As a result, women’s economic contributions grow, enhancing food security and reducing poverty within their families and communities.
Ensuring long-term sustainability
However, as cage fish farming scales, ongoing support is required to ensure long-term sustainability. Challenges, including water quality, competition for resources, and initial startup costs, can limit the effectiveness of these initiatives. Continued investment in technical training, community collaboration, and resource management is essential. Environmental stewardship and infrastructure development must go hand-in-hand with community-focused solutions to maximise the benefits of cage fish farming.
Ultimately, the impact of empowering women around Lake Victoria is rippling out in transformative ways. Women like Caroline and Eunice exemplify resilience and adaptability, bridging traditional practices with modern solutions. By offering them autonomy and economic tools, they become role models in their communities, fostering social change and resilience against age-old practices that have long held back the fishing community on Lake Victoria.