Gender

Women have always been central to ocean communities, yet their contributions remain among the least told stories in maritime culture. These pieces follow women fishers, researchers, divers, and advocates reshaping their industries and coastlines. The sea does not discriminate; these stories ask why we do.

All stories

Women and water are entwined like two vines

Olivia Mary Nantongo

Artistic Expression

Interview with artist Olivia Mary Nantongo

Born in Kampala, Olivia Mary Nantongo is part of a new generation of Ugandan artists reshaping contemporary African portraiture.

Dagaa and Dignity

Editrudith Lukanga

Sustainable Livelihoods

The Women of Lake Victoria Who Read the Water

Before sunrise breaks over Lake Victoria, the women are already awake.

The Shorekeepers

Jentrix Chochy Sakwa

Indigenous Knowledge

Women, Memory, and Ocean Knowledge in Coastal Kenya

Long before seawalls were constructed and global funding became a standard feature of shoreline protection, women along the Kenyan coast practiced a sophisticated form of shoreline management.

Ossunculo

Mothers of the sea in Mozambique Island

In the still-dark dawn on Mozambique Island, Fátima Celestino rises before the sun. At 68 years old, she has lived by the sea since childhood.

Muthianas: the invisible daughters of the sea

At low tide, the reef appears before the boats.

Growing a future from the sea

Sustainable Livelihoods

The Hiari Women Group redefine their traditional roles through their seaweed business

In many coastal communities in Tanzania, long-standing cultural norms have traditionally placed men as the sole providers for their families.

Blue echoes of a young woman

Blue Echoes of a Young Woman: Ocean Identity and Voice in Tanzania

Shamim Wasii Nyanda

"Protecting our ocean ecosystems is not just a job—it is a calling."

In the face of mounting environmental challenges, I have come to realize how important the role of women is in driving sustainable solutions and protecting our ocean ecosystems.

Working for greater representation of women in artisanal fisheries

Women of Chiloé: Female Fishers Revamp Chile’s Artisanal Seafood Market

Carmen Díaz Vargas

Fisheries & Aquaculture

How Carmen Díaz Vargas and fellow fisherwomen are reshaping gender roles in artisanal fisheries on Isla Grande de Chiloé

Like many women, I am several roles in a single person: mother, wife, housewife, worker, social leader, and micro-entrepreneur, but one of the most important, and I say this with great pride, is that I am a woman of the sea.

Saltwater stories

Saltwater stories

Artistic Expression

An underwater photographer's reflection on art and the ocean

The ocean is everything to me. It inspires my work, my play, my passions. As a photographer I look to the ocean as an everchanging stimulus that helps fuel my creativity.

Reclaiming the sea

From Fear to Freedom: For Displaced Women, Swimming is Healing

In Lesvos, Greece, swim classes offer connection, confidence, and community for displaced women and girls

For many, the sea represents freedom, adventure, or a simple escape.

The common thread found on the edges of the earth

What's found on the edges of the earth?

Inspiring Ocean Voices

The power of water women

Growing up, I was captivated by the idea of becoming an ocean explorer.

No longer left on the shore

Women are no longer left on the shore

Jasmine Corbett

In the Maldives, a new generation of women are showing the power of ocean accessibility

We gather in the garden of the RahVeshi Programme staff house, a traditional Maldivian home nestled on Makunudhoo Island in the far north of the Maldives.

Womxn without a womb

Womxn without a womb

Cultivating self identity and consciousness shaped by the sea

I hadn’t thought much about what the X in womxn might mean until I joined eXXpedition.

Rewriting women into maritime history

What would maritime history be without women?

women make up just 29% of the maritime workforce and a mere 2% of seafarers. That story is changing.

What do you picture when you hear maritime history?

A story of Superwomen

The (Coral) Superwomen reviving Indonesia's reefs

January 9, 2025

Meet the unstoppable Coral Catch women in an exclusive video interview and article

In a world that often chooses to divide, organise, and categorise, what does it mean to be a woman in conservation?

Riding the wave of change: empowering Aberdeen’s women in surfing and environmental advocacy

The Wave Makers of Scotland's Coast

February 28, 2024

Nestled against the North Sea, the beachfront of Aberdeen, Scotland, was once known primarily for its windswept, industrial stretches, but has undergone a remarkable transformation since 2020.

Raising the voices of Indonesian women to restore their homeland’s coral reefs

Reef Keepers

Mélissa Bergeron

Inspiring Ocean Voices

November 29, 2023

Indonesian Women Restoring the Sea

As the world witnesses the alarming global decline of coral reefs, a surge of restoration projects has emerged worldwide.

SeaVoice Newsletter

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At SeaVoice, we believe that understanding the complex dynamics between human culture and the environment is crucial for addressing the challenges we face today. By exploring the stories of those who have a deep connection to bodies of water, we gain a deeper appreciation for the importance of preserving and protecting these invaluable resources.

SeaVoice is produced by the Ocean Decade Heritage Network UK (ODHN-UK). ODHN-UK is a registered Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC052384)