How do women fishers contribute to the blue economy in Morocco?

Fatima – A life at sea, guided by the wind

Fatima has known the sea all her life. At just ten years old, she was already helping her sister and their father pull in the nets. Today, at 52, a widow and mother of three, she is one of the few women in Belyounech—a small coastal village in northern Morocco—who still heads out to sea to practice small-scale fishing.

As President of the Mawjat Belyounech Cooperative, she gets up before dawn, pulls on her wetsuit, walks down to the beach, starts the outboard motor, and heads out to sea.

On shore, Fatima sorts and sells the day’s catch, repairs damaged nets, and imparts her expertise to new members. A natural leader, she ensures that each woman finds her rightful place within the cooperative.

Sanae – Mending nets to rebuild lives

When her husband lost his job, she took the initiative to mend nets, process fish, and innovate, to support her family and create  new income streams.

Together with her relatives, she founded the Al Hout Al Azraq Cooperative, specializing in net-mending, small-scale aquaculture, and recycling fishing nets. 

At their workshop in Martil, Sanae works alongside other women to transform discarded fishing nets and give them a second life as bags, artisanal items, and durable goods. Their work advances the circular economy while promoting women’s economic empowerment in the region.

Ikram – Women’s leadership at the heart of change

Ikram Yanbour, 37, heads Basmat Al Bahriat, a cooperative in M’diq bringing together more than 13 women. While they do not go to the sea, they transform the catch into canned fish, ready-to-eat dishes, traditional recipes – each product a result of collective effort.

For Ikram, leadership is rooted in participation, mutual trust, and the development of skills. She fosters teamwork while encouraging each member’s autonomy.

Supporting the women who sustain the blue economy

Through the “Supporting the Economic Inclusion of Women Working in the Fisheries Sector” project, implemented in partnership with the State Secretariat for Maritime Fisheries and financial support from the Balearic Islands, UN Women is empowering over 65 women across eight fisheries cooperatives across the Tangier–Tétouan–Al Hoceima region — including Fatima, Sanae, and Ikram, who are driving local development.

The project responds to needs identified on the ground - from food security to improved management of fishery resources, modernization of equipment, while strengthening women’s economic position in their communities.

In its initial phase, the project equips women fishers with modern technologies, enhances their technical and managerial capacities, and integrates them into a sustainable value chain, with tailored support to improve access to finance and reduce the digital divide.

By supporting the structuring of cooperatives and their consolidation into federations, UN Women is transforming the way women participate in the fisheries sector. Previously, many women were working individually or within small, informal groups with limited bargaining power, market access, or recognition. Through this project, cooperatives are being formalized and strengthened with clear governance structures, leadership training, and business development support. This shift from isolated local initiatives to organized federations positions women not just as beneficiaries but as powerful economic actors and leaders driving territorial development, enhancing food security, boosting local economies, and paving the way for future generations of women to thrive in traditionally male-dominated sectors.

For Fatima, this support represents a bridge to the future:

Together with other women working in fisheries, Fatima, Sanae and Ikram are shaping their communities’ economies and inspiring future generations.