“Women in Seafood” video competition: A great success of the third edition

WSI (Women in Seafood), a not-for-profit organisation, created by seafood and gender issues specialists highlights gender imbalance in the industry, sheds light on women’s real contribution in the industry, and promote greater gender diversity and inclusiveness.

For its third edition the WSI video competition 2019 has hit a record with 32 entries from 14 countries, a 88% increase compared to 2018. The international jury including highly recognised professionals (see below) has struggled a bit to select the best videos, as “all of them tell a story worth sharing”.

They awarded best WSI 2019 prizes to:

First prize: Women of the Arousa Sea, (Galicia) : “The best! Touching, Strong, positive, with context and showing diverse angles of women at sea” commented one jury member.

Second prize: Oyster farming in Wadatar (India). “Very interesting and positive initiative, where women overcame prior opposition and go in the water.”

Third prize: Truchas arapa, or The Aquaculture women of Lake Arapa (Peru). “A promising aquaculture initiative where Reyna Callata Chaco a very inspirational role model provides good leadership to other women.”

In addition they value the following two entries with the WSI prize of “Excellence”

WSI Prize of Excellence 2019 Leadership des femmes transformatrices au Sénégal (Senegal): “Excellent video – great music and visuals, where women were at the front and innovations current and important.” 

WSI Prize of Excellence2019 Women with tradition (Peru) “A one family business inspirational for other families in the community”.

Finally a Special WSI mention is awarded to Special WSI mention to Mujeres del mar, (Mexico) “Very good example of the work of a community in which women share experiences”

And the second Special WSI mention to Mujeres a bordo (Spain, Galicia) “Highlights the key issue of prejudices severe on land but inexistent on board. Excellent lesson to those who do not believe that a woman can do it!”

“This year the videos of very high standards pay a wonderful tribute to women working in the seafood sector. Their commitment, their resilience and their love of their work are portrayed very convincingly. All actors in the videos, directors and real characters, should be warmly congratulated.” – Marie Christine Monfort, WSI President.

“The WSI video competition made me feel wonderful moments by navigating through the experiences of positive, tough and pro-active women from all over the world. Most are examples that should be shared, serving as models for engaging women in pro-active decisions and sustainable practices toward a better world.”  Alpina Begossi, Professor at Ecomar/Unisanta, Brazil.

“The standard of all the films was high, and they demonstrated the many ways in which women are active throughout the seafood industry. There were happy tales and sad tales, tales of bravery and perseverance, and tales of the struggle against circumstance. A couple of films even brought a tear to my eye. All the women should be congratulated on their outstanding efforts; they left me in awe.” Nicki Holmyard, journalist, UK

This third edition has received the support of the French Development Agency (AFD) and the International Association for Fish Inspectors. MATIS from Iceland, a loyal support to WSI for the third year supplies the technical logistics.

“We are happy to announce that the 2020 edition is open and we look forward to receiving new wonderful testimonies from all over the world, making visible the two often invisible yet paramount contribution of women to the seafood industry.” – Marie Christine Monfort, WSI President.

Members of the jury
The 2019 jury was composed of seafood experts from the four corners of the globe.

• South America, Alpina Begossi, Researcher at Capesca/Nepa/Unicamp; Professor at Ecomar/Unisanta, Santos, Brazil
• Europe, Nicki Holmyard, seafood expert, editor Seafood Source, director offshore Shellfish Ltd
• Europe, Cecile Brugere, freelance ecological and fisheries economist, director Soulfish
• South East Asia-Oceania, Pippa Cohen, programme leader with Worldfish
• North Africa, Izzat Feidi, fisheries and aquaculture consultant
• Indian Ocean, Julius Francis Executive secretary, Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association
• Asia, Arlene Nietes Satapornvanit, Gender Integration Specialist, USAID Oceans

All videos are available here: http://womeninseafood.com/videos-2019/

Email: womeninseafood@wsi-asso.org
Press contact: WSI +33 6 3262 2477
Twitter: @seafoodwomen