Global Research Trends on Socio-Economic Constraints Faced by Women in Fisheries: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Background and Aim: Gender dynamics within the fisheries value chain vary significantly across regional, economic, and cultural contexts, shaping women’s participation and the constraints they encounter. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global research trends on the socio-economic constraints faced by women in fisheries from 1990 to 2025, with a focus on activities such as fish processing and marketing. Research Methodology: Using the Scopus database, 307 publications were identified and analyzed following PRISMA screening procedures. Bibliometric tools such as the Bibliometrix R package and VOSviewer were employed to map author collaborations, keyword co-occurrences, and thematic evolution in the field. Results: The analysis reveals an average annual growth rate of 11.42%, highlighting            increasing scholarly attention to gendered inequalities in fisheries. Early research (1990 - 2005) showed limited output, followed by gradual increases from 2009-2016 influenced by global development agendas, and a rapid surge post-2017, peaking at 44 publications in 2025. India contributed 52% of publications, followed by the USA and the Philippines. Key themes include gender, small-scale fisheries, livelihoods, food security, resilience, climate change, and post-harvest labour. Recent trends emphasize intersectional research linking gender with climate adaptation, value-chain inequities, occupational health, market digitalization, and household food systems. Conclusion: The findings provide an evidence base for strengthening gender-responsive fisheries policies, improving working conditions and social protection for fisherwomen, integrating women’s roles into climate-adaptation strategies, and addressing inequities in post-harvest value chains through targeted interventions and institutional support.