Why do women remain underrepresented in parts of Australia’s commercial fishing sector, and what can be done to improve workforce participation and retention?
These are some of the questions being explored by Nilanjana Biswas, a PhD candidate at Charles Darwin University whose research is examining the experiences, contributions and challenges faced by women working in the seafood industry. Supported through the National Industry PhD (NIPhD) Program, the project brings together university researchers and industry partners to address a workforce issue identified as a priority by the sector itself.
The project was developed by Professor Natasha Stacey, Professor of Communities and Livelihoods at Charles Darwin University, whose work focuses on fisheries, livelihoods, gender and natural resource management. For Natasha, the research grew directly from conversations with industry partners concerned about workforce retention and participation, particularly the role and engagement of women in the seafood sector.
“The research that we're working on at the moment that's supported by the National Industry PhD program came about with some conversations between our current research partners about this topic around women and seafood in the commercial fishing industry in the Northern Territory,” Natasha explains. “They also identified that this issue of workforce retention and participation was something they were concerned about, particularly around women's roles and engagement in the sector.”
The collaboration ultimately brought together Charles Darwin University and three industry partners, creating a project designed to investigate how women participate in the industry, the barriers they encounter and the opportunities for change.
For Nilanjana, the project represented an unexpected opportunity to pursue doctoral research in an area she had not previously considered.
“I hadn't ever considered doing a PhD until this opportunity came my way,” she says. “I'd never really looked at women's gender issues in the context of industrialised fisheries. So I wanted to see what differences there were.”
A key feature of the NIPhD model is the close involvement of industry partners throughout the research process. While managing multiple partners might appear challenging, Nilanjana says it has become one of the project's greatest strengths.
“It might seem quite mind-boggling to have three research partners,” she says. “Actually, it's really advantageous because they each bring their own strength, and they have such diverse perspectives and suggestions. It's a very balanced input that I get. Most importantly, they've been extremely, amazingly supportive.”
That support has extended into the design of the research itself. When developing an online survey, industry partners provided extensive feedback and advice, helping ensure the work would be relevant to the people and organisations it is intended to benefit.
“They had many suggestions to make on the questionnaire design,” Nilanjana explains. “That's been really heartening because you then know that what you're designing, what you're planning to take out into the world has industry relevance. It speaks to the realities of the sector.”
This industry engagement is one of the reasons Natasha sees the NIPhD Program as so valuable. Beyond providing financial support, the program enables deeper collaboration between candidates, researchers and industry stakeholders.
At its core, the research seeks to better understand the experiences of women working in the seafood industry and identify ways to strengthen workforce participation and retention.
“So I see this research as a way of amplifying those issues,” Nilanjana says. “Being able to talk about the participation, the contribution, the retention challenges that women face in the sector.”
She hopes the findings will help identify barriers and inform future action.
“I'm hoping through my research to be able to identify these barriers and challenges,” she says. “So I do see that it will contribute to a national discourse on improving workforce participation.”
For Natasha, the project’s significance extends beyond the Northern Territory. She believes it has the potential to influence future research, policy discussions and industry practices both nationally and internationally.
“It's a really amazing, important piece of work,” she says. “It is going to actually provide a pathway for similar types of studies in the future nationally, as well as provide that input into the global discourse and literature, and hopefully policy action around this topic.”
As the research progresses, Nilanjana remains enthusiastic about both the project and the community in which it is based.
“The NT is fascinating. I'm in love with the Northern Territory,” she says. “I have been really, really enjoying myself, and I hope that my research will also reflect that enthusiasm.”
Together, their experience demonstrates how the National Industry PhD Program can connect researchers and industry around shared challenges, generating evidence that not only advances knowledge, but also helps shape a more inclusive and sustainable future for Australia’s seafood sector.