An investigation into women’s economic empowerment in the blue economy: A case study of Omankete seafood processors in Walvis Bay, Namibia
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Date
2025
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Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
Namibia's fishing industry is the third largest contributor to gross domestic product
(GDP), accounting for approximately 20% of export earnings. Despite such stellar
numbers, women are still not sufficiently empowered to gain economic opportunities
in this industry due to a lack of knowledge and technical know-how and it being a
male-dominated sector, hence the gender disparities. This study explored the
opportunities and barriers to women’s economic empowerment in the fishing industry,
including how their economic empowerment is perceived by women employed by
Omankete Seafood Processors Pty (Ltd). The study contributes to the policy changes
in the fishing industry. The study was informed by the Women Empowerment
Framework (WEF), which aims to move towards gender equity and gender equality.
Moreover, the framework takes into consideration the four dimensions of women’s
empowerment, which are: women to access resources, exercise self-awareness,
mobilize their rights, and control their environment. The study made use of the
qualitative research methodology employing the case study approach. The data was
collected through semi-structured interviews, with a total of 28 participants (4 key
informants and 24 female factory workers) through purposive sampling. The data was
subjected to thematic analysis, from which it was determined that women do derive
opportunities and benefits from the fishing industry in the form of monetary
compensation and access to pension funds. Moreover, the study found that women are
hindered from actively participating in the industry due to certain job opportunities
only being available to men. Future studies will benefit from interviewing more fishing
companies and employees employed in auxiliary services. This research aimed to
examine opportunities for women’s economic empowerment in the Namibian fishing
industry and explore constraints to women’s economic empowerment in the fishing
industry. The research study further explored perceptions of the empowerment of
women in the fishing industry
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Gender and Development Studies
Keywords
Women, Women’s economic empowerment, Blue Economy, Fishing industry, Namibia, University of Namibia, Omankete seafood processors, Walvis Bay