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Women represent today 13pct of the workforce of the UK aquaculture sector. (Photo: Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre)
Scottish Centre promotes 'Women in Aquaculture' innitiative
(UNITED KINGDOM, 8/1/2018)
The Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) is asking the industry to come together in support of a new working group which aims to encourage more women into aquaculture, and support those already working in the sector.
SAIC conducted a survey that revealed overwhelming support for such a group with nearly three quarters (73 per cent) of respondents saying they would join it if set up.
When asked what the purpose of the group should be, nearly nine in 10 respondents said that it should provide networking support to others already working, or considering a career, in UK aquaculture.
Two thirds of respondents agreed that it should raise awareness of women working in UK aquaculture through, for example, social media and case studies.
From SAIC it is pointed out that their survey comes hot on the heels of the publication of the Skills Review for the Aquaculture Sector in Scotland report, which was commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise on behalf of the Aquaculture Industry Leadership Group.
The report revealed that the shellfish industry is dominated by male employees at 87 per cent compared to just 13 per cent of females. However, it is not just in the workforce that women are currently out-numbered by men. This disparity starts in education.
According to the Skills Review, aquaculture related subjects at school such as biology, chemistry, environmental science and food technology and in further education (FE) and training continue to be dominated by males who accounted for over half of entries in 2016, 90 per cent of enrolments on Fish Production/Fisheries FE course in 2015/16 and the vast majority of people starting an aquaculture Modern Apprenticeship.
“As well as there being women leaders at the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation and trout company Dawnfresh, there are increasing numbers of brilliant and talented younger women working in aquaculture. But we need to showcase and highlight their progress in scientific, technical and academic roles, for the encouragement of others,” stressed Heather Jones, CEO of SAIC.
The CEO explained that over half of their survey respondents are willing to contribute to a Women in UK Aquaculture Group, with over 40 per cent willing to offer mentoring to another woman, and another 40 per cent happy to provide advice or guidance to others in the group.
For her part, Joyce Campbell, who chairs an already existing group with a similar purpose – the Women in Agriculture Group, which was founded by the Scottish Government in June 2017 – has offered her advice to the potential Women in Aquaculture group.
“There’s so much grass roots enthusiasm to support mentoring and training for women in agriculture. The Women in Agriculture Task Force has to date focused on empowering and up-skilling women in our industry. I am sure that with some committed and enthusiastic champions in the aquaculture sector, there’s no limit to what you can do,” Campbell concluded.
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