Sex for fish

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions. (February 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message) The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (February 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Sex for fish, sometimes referred to as "fish for sex", is a phenomenon in which female fish traders engage in transactional sexual relationships with fishermen to secure their supply of fish, often out of coercion.^[1] Sex for fish is a common phenomenon in many developing countries, with the bulk of cases observed in Sub-Saharan Africa's inland fisheries. The practice is most common among economically disadvantaged women, such as single women, divorced women, or widows, who reside on or along the shores of inland fisheries.

Several social-economic factors, including poverty, cultural practices, and competition among women who are involved in the fish trade, are often listed as variables fueling the 'sex for fish' practice. There is no conclusive research that shows what promotes the 'sex for fish' practice. However, fishermen have been theorized to be taking advantage of stiff competition between the women who trade in fish to demand sexual favours in exchange for the fish. The men or the traders who receive sexual favours would grant preferential sales and sell at reduced prices to these women.^[2]

On the shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya, women have been observed giving out empty polythene bags to the fishermen before they go out fishing at night or early morning, and when the fishermen return, some of the best catch would be set aside for them, stashed in these bags.^{[3][failed verification]}