With the conference “The sea through the eyes of women: fishmongers, skippers and fisherwomen”, on International Women’s Day, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) is highlighting the importance of women in the fishing community, especially in the selling of fish.

The conference will focus on the research that historian Ariana Domínguez is carrying out in the documentary collections of the APB archives on the links between women and fishing in Mallorca, as part of her doctoral thesis. She has analysed the records from 1946 to 2002, which contain interesting data such as skippers’ licences and the profile of buyers over these decades.

The sea through the eyes of women

Women have always been a fundamental part of the fishing communities of Mallorca. For decades they have been present both at sea and on land, working mainly as fisherwomen, skippers and fishmongers.

In her talk, Ariana Domínguez highlighted all women’s activities relating to the sea, which have so far received little attention, as well as the importance of women in the fishing world. She also spoke about how men and women involved in fishing have often worked together, creating a series of relationships in which the family and the community have been fundamental.

The conference and the subsequent colloquium with Antònia Salvà and Catalina Vera, with their direct knowledge and experience of the sea, made it possible to reflect on the maritime and fishing world from a gender perspective.