This ‘Story from the South China Sea’ aims to contribute to regional efforts to promote gender equality in fisheries. The seafood supply system of Southeast Asia differs from many other parts of the world where whole families are often involved in the activity of fishing, act as market analysts, work on construction of fishing vessels and gear, right through to often running small seafood outlets that are enjoyed by the more than 300+ million people that live in coastal areas of places like the South China Sea.

The South China Sea is a global centre of shallow water marine biological diversity that supports significant fisheries that are important to the food security and export income of Southeast Asian countries. This short film outlines efforts of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) to work with communities and governments to integrate habitat and biodiversity conservation considerations into fishery management and practices. The South China Sea Fisheries Refugia Initiative is financed by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by United Nations Environment with the aim of achieving the fisheries targets of the Strategic Action Programme for South China Sea.