Canned fish

Women played a substantial role in the fish canning industry in Gipuzkoa since industrialization. Their work has been crucial to the development and maintenance of this economic activity in the region. Since the end of the 19th century, when the canning industry began to develop on the Basque coast, women have been involved in various aspects of production.

In the early years of the industry, while men were engaged in fishing at sea, women stayed on land and complemented family chores with work in the canneries. This division of labor led to many factories fully operated by women. From the 1950s onwards, women played an active role in the production of canned fish, especially in the preparation of salted paste and the handling of anchovy fillets. Their responsibilities included unloading fish (neskatilak, in Basque), mending nets (sareginak), making preserves from fish that were not sold fresh, cleaning and preparing fish, and packaging and labeling products.

Some companies, such as Conservas Condor and Conservas Azkue, along with others, such as Salanort and Conservas Nardin –located in the coastal towns of Getaria and Zumaia—, have contributed significantly to this industry. In recent decades, the role of women in the canning industry has evolved considerably; today, women are not only involved in production but also occupy management positions. For example, at the Arroyabe company, 50% of management positions are run by women.