This report examines women’s participation in fisheries and aquaculture across the COMESA region, with in-depth case studies from Kenya, Rwanda and Seychelles. It analyses women’s roles across the fisheries value chain, the structural, social and economic barriers affecting their participation, and opportunities to strengthen their economic empowerment and leadership. The report also proposes policy directions to improve access to finance, skills, technology, markets and decision-making, and to advance more gender-responsive fisheries and aquaculture systems across the region.