The fisheries industry has long been marked by gender imbalances that have limited opportunities for women, stifling progress. Yet women have always been part of the diverse fisheries and seafood landscape in a variety of essential roles. Whether on the water, in processing facilities, leading research or supporting men, but too often, their contributions have gone unrecognised or unpaid. At UK WIF, we envision an industry where women’s voices are not just included but celebrated, and where diversity is seen as a strength that drives innovation and growth.

We work by:

Building a membership directory to highlight the incredible careers of women across the country, enabling fellow members to build new connections, and showcasing wonderful role models.
Creating meaningful mentorship matches to support the personal and professional lives of our members.
Advocate for women to be paid fairly, and to stop the exploitation of women’s voices in tokenistic gestures, or unpaid consultancy.
Deliver webinars on topics educating everyone on gender difficulties, opportunities to drive equal opportunities, prioritising safety and offering valuable training and coaching.
Elevating the profession and ensuring that women are represented as skilled, professional individuals, whilst enabling women to bring their authentic selves to work.
Providing a platform for safe and productive discussion about the things that matter to our members whether work related or otherwise.

Why Our Mission Matters

Our Feminist Approach

As a feminist organisation, we recognize that gender equity is inseparable from broader inclusivity. We actively support LGBTQIA+ individuals, disabled communities, and women from all racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Intersectionality is at the core of our work because we understand that the challenges faced by women in fisheries are shaped by multiple, overlapping factors.

Feminism, to us, means striving for fairness and respect while challenging the systemic barriers that perpetuate inequality. It’s about advocating for everyone who has been marginalised in the industry and creating spaces where all women are heard and valued.

Our Values: Empowerment, Equality, Passion

Our mission is underpinned by three core values that guide everything we do:

Empowerment

We believe that empowered individuals create empowered communities. Empowerment means giving women the tools, confidence, and support they need to succeed.

How we live this value:

Mentorship Matchmaking: Through our mentorship service, we connect women at all stages of their careers with experienced role models who can provide guidance and encouragement.
Sea Sister Spotlight: We regularly shine a light on inspiring women in the industry through our social media series, celebrating their achievements and sharing their stories.

Equality

Equality is the foundation of our work. We are committed to creating opportunities for women to thrive in an industry that has historically been dominated by men.

How we live this value:

Representation: We advocate for women to have a seat at the table, whether that’s in boardrooms, on vessels, or in policy discussions.
Create Opportunity: For learning and growth within our network and wider communities on subjects that contribute to a more equitable society.
Advocacy: We champion policies and initiatives that ensure women in fisheries are paid fairly, respected, and given leadership opportunities. Read more about this in our New Years Resolution

Passion

Our work is driven by passion - love for the sea, adoration for the communities that depend on it, and a devotion to the incredible women who are shaping its future.

How we live this value:

Celebrating Women: Passion shines through in all our social media features and our constant efforts to amplify women’s stories and contributions.
Building Community: We create safe spaces where women can share ideas, support each other, and work together toward shared goals.
Sisterhood: Creation and curation of a community that runs on sisterhood and shared knowledge and experiences.

Living Our Values in Everything We Do

Our mission and values are more than words on a page; they are the principles that guide every decision we make, from how we treat our team to how we engage with partners and the public. The Patriarchy hurts everyone, not just women. There are countless studies and articles showing that when women are included in conversation, leadership and change; everybody benefits.

With Employees: We live by a culture of respect, transparency, and inclusion. Everyone who works with UK WIF is encouraged to bring their authentic selves to the table and is supported in their growth.
With Partners: We collaborate with organisations that share our commitment to equity and inclusivity, working together to create meaningful change in the seafood industry. We refuse to work with organisations that do not align with our values.
Social Media: We use our social media channels to amplify the voices of women in the industry, push for equality and passionately celebrate their work and achievements. We'll leave platforms that don't allow us to do this.