The adverse impacts of climate change on aquatic food systems (AFS) and the people who depend on AFS for livelihood security are inequitably distributed between and within countries. People facing the highest risks and experiencing the severest impacts of climate change are those who already experience multidimensional inequalities in their lives, particularly because of their gender, class, age, indigeneity, ethnicity, caste, religion, and the physical and political conditions that can create additional vulnerabilities. In this paper, we conducted a scoping review of the literature that explores the links between climate change, gender, and other social identities, and AFS. The review was complemented by an analysis of representative data on women and men aquaculture farmers in Bangladesh from 2018 to 2019. We also analysed data from the 2019 Illuminating Hidden Harvest project. The study relied on the gendered agrifood system and aquatic food climate risk frameworks to guide on literature search, review, and data analyses. Our findings show that intersecting identities disadvantage certain AFS actors, particularly young women from minority ethnic groups, and create challenge for them to manage and adapt to climate shocks and stresses. Examples of gender-responsive and transformative interventions are highlighted from our review to showcase how such intersectional disadvantages can be addressed to increase women’s empowerment and social and gender equality.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000309

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Rahma Adamhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5242-0865

Esther Smitshttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0033-3502

Froukje Kruijssenhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9804-3038

Colette C.C. Wabnitzhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5076-9163

Alexander Tilleyhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6363-0945

Matteo Luzzihttps://orcid.org/0009-0002-8323-3709

Peerzadi Rumana Hossainhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1125-284X

Cristiano M. Rossignolihttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8220-7360

Steven Colehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8947-0871

Kevin Okoth Oukohttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9894-5042

Farnworth, C.R.https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2263-865X

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000309

Social Science and Agribusiness

Climate Change; Food Security; Food Systems; Gender; Livelihoods

Climate Change; Food Systems; Food Security; Gender; Aquaculture

ACP; Europe

Namibia

Eastern Africa Hub

PLOS Climate