Understanding masculinities should be a MUST in fisheries: The case of small-scale fishermen in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Abstract Human interactions with the environment are critical for ecological integrity and long-term sustainability. Within this context, men’s roles are particularly significant in relation to the ocean, as they have historically dominated maritime activities including fisheries, trade, construction, travel, and seafaring. Achieving equitable fisheries management thus requires a more systematic understanding of how gender constructs shape practices in specific settings. Yet, the dynamics of men and masculinities remain insufficiently theorized, underscoring the need for more robust analytical frameworks. This viewpoint article argues that engaging directly with masculinities is essential for improving fisheries management and advancing ocean sustainability. The analysis builds on Hultman’s (2017) and Hultman and Pulé’s (2018) typology of industrial/breadwinner, ecomodern, and ecological masculinities, and explores this framework to small-scale fisheries on Unguja Island (Zanzibar), Tanzania. The findings indicate that masculinities in Zanzibar are closely associated with the fishing gear employed. Two distinct forms were identified. “Soft masculinity”, linked to basket-traps and handlines, is characterized by ecological knowledge, strong historical continuity, legality, slower modes of practice, and sustainability. In contrast, “hard masculinity”, associated with drag nets and spearfishing, reflects limited ecological knowledge, shallow historical roots, illegality, rapid extraction, and unsustainability. Taken together, these findings reveal how fishing gear and constructions of masculinity are deeply interconnected, and how these interrelations in turn shape ecological outcomes in the marine environment. The viewpoint therefore contributes a practical model for continued inquiry into masculinities—one that encourages the adoption of more inclusive and ecologically grounded ways of engaging with the ocean.