After Anchoring the Boat

In Thailand’s coastal communities, fisherwomen are the backbone of an entire food system. They process catches, repair nets, manage equipment, and sell at markets, yet Thai law refuses to recognize them as “fishers.” That legal definition belongs only to those who physically catch aquatic animals—a narrow classification that excludes women from rights, welfare, and decision-making processes. Through the Federation of Thai Fisherfolk Association and grassroots movements, fisherwomen are now fighting back—demanding legal recognition, equal participation in marine governance, and protection for small-scale fisheries threatened by industrial development.