The EU is making significant strides toward gender equality in the blue economy. At the forefront of this change is WINBLUE, a project funded by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). WINBLUE focuses on five key sectors, including circular blue bioeconomy, aquaculture, and offshore renewable energy. Its ambitious aims include increasing women’s participation, enhancing knowledge about their contributions, and fostering leadership and entrepreneurship among women in the blue economy. Read more...
Working in tandem with WINBLUE is the WIN-BIG project, which is diving deep into data collection and analysis. By providing comprehensive datasets on gender representation across all six EU sea basins, WIN-BIG intends to substantiate the narrative of the gender gap in the blue economy with hard numbers. The project also focuses on identifying skills gaps and developing tailored learning programmes to boost women’s careers in emerging blue economy sectors. Read more...
Funded by the Erasmus+ programme, she4sea specifically targets women wishing to pursue a career in maritime tourism, fisheries & aquaculture, and shipping. The project intends to foster the acquisition of soft skills in three competence areas: leadership, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. Among other things, she4sea is developing an online training platform for women and VET (Vocational Education and Training) trainers, a digital profiling tool for self-assessment, as well as a competence framework summarising the needs and prevailing gender issues that hinder women’s professional development in the maritime sectors. Read more...
In the realm of marine science, the Baltic Gender project went to great lengths to reduce gender inequalities around the Baltic Sea region. By addressing career development, mentoring, and work-life balance, this initiative contributed to creating a more inclusive environment in scientific institutions. Read more...
EmpowerUs project, funded under the Horizon Europe Program, aims to empower coastal communities to transition towarsd more resilient, inclusive and sustainable development. The project has recently launched a series #WomenMakingWaves, that celebrates and highlights female ocean innovators across Europe who have been empowered by or have empowered the ocean.
These EU-wide efforts are complemented by powerful regional movements. In Spain, Mujeres del Mar is creating a network of women in maritime sectors, giving voice to women of the sea and sharing inspiring stories. Read more...
In Galicia, Mulleres Salgadas (website in Spanish), a regional association for women in the fishing sector, has grown to over 2,000 members since its founding in 2016. Representing a diverse range of maritime professions, Mulleres Salgadas actively works to recognise and valorise women’s work in the maritime sector, advocating for gender equality in the fishing industry. Read more...
Likewise, AKTEA, the European network of fisherwomen’s organisations, aims to connect women from different EU Member States, and ultimately gain recognition for their role in fisheries and aquaculture, and ensure access to decision-making processes at both European and national levels. Read more...
These initiatives are not just about equality; they are about harnessing the full potential of human resources in the blue economy. By empowering women, not only is society addressing a social issue, but it is also driving innovation, sustainability, and economic growth in maritime sectors.
Empowering women through education and technical training is essential for bridging the gender gap in marine sciences and technologies (Marine Technology Society, 2024). Programmes that focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education for women are vital for increasing their participation in the labour market (EIGE, 2024). In the blue economy, this becomes of special significance in high-growth and innovative sectors, such as, renewable energy and biotechnology.
For the EU’s economy to achieve its full potential, the inclusion and empowerment of women should be prioritised (European Commission, A Union of Equality: Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025).
When it comes to the blue economy, from fisheries to renewable energy, women have demonstrated their capacity to contribute to sustainable practices. However, socio-cultural barriers, unequal access to resources, and the gender pay gap hinder their progress. By addressing these challenges through inclusive policy-making, financial empowerment, and education, women can play an instrumental role in driving both economic growth and sustainable ocean management (OECD, 2021). The blue economy, with its vast potential, cannot thrive without gender equality at its core.
EU funded projects
| Project Name | Full name | Duration | Funding | Focus sector | Key Objectives | Website |
 © WINBLUE Project | Women in the Blue Economy WINBLUE | May 1, 2023 - July 31, 2025 | European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) | Blue Bioeconomy, Aquaculture, Renewable Energy, Coastal Tourism, Marine Technologies | Increase women participation, foster leadership, promote gender equality | https://winblue-project.eu/ |
 © Win-Big Project | Women In Blue Economy Intelligence Gathering and Capacity Boosting | May 1, 2023 - April 30, 2026 | European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) | Blue Bioeconomy, Blue Sports & Tourism, Marine Energy and Robotics | Provide gender data, address skills gaps, empower women in emerging sectors | https://winbigproject.eu/ |
 ©She4Sea Project | She4Sea - Towards an Inclusive Maritime Industry | December 15, 2023 - March 15, 2025 | Erasmus+ Programme | Maritime Tourism, Fisheries & Aquaculture, Shipping | Promote women’s skills in leadership, entrepreneurship, and sustainability | https://she4seaproject.eu/ |
 © Baltic Gender Project
| Baltic Gender - Promoting Gender Equality in Marine Science and Technology | September 1, 2016 - September 1, 2020 | Horizon 2020 Programme | Marine Science and Technology | Reduce gender inequalities in marine science and technology | https://www.baltic-gender.eu |
 | EmpowerUs - Socio-economic Empowerment of coastal communities as users of the sea to ensure sustainable coastal development | October 1. 2022-September 30 2025 | Horizon 2020 Programme | Socio-economic empowerment of the users of the sea | Empower coastal communities to transition towards more resilient, inclusive and sustainable coastal development | https://empowerus-project.eu/project-overview/ |
| Women on Board | Promoting Inclusion and Equality for Women in the Blue Economy Labour Market | May 1, 2025-July 31, 2029 | Interreg Europe | Shipping, Fishing, Port Engineering, Boating, Logistics, Marine Energy | Ensure equal access to quality employment, and fostering a more inclusive social economy. | n/a |