Community-based fisheries management (CBFM) is a standard management framework in Melanesia. Yet, there is increasing evidence that women, among other marginalised groups, experience barriers to inclusion in decision-making processes. Through a case study in three communities in Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, we adapted Bina Agarwal’s 2001 participation typology for a Melanesian CBFM context to present a participation model for assessing gender inclusivity in CBFM. Our results show that gender parity, that is equal representation of women and men, is not a reliable indicator of gender equity, and that women’s engagement in CBFM decision-making varies significantly between communities, even in close proximity. We anticipate the model will be broadly useful throughout Melanesia across different cultural contexts, though aspects will need be adapted in different contexts both within and beyond Solomon Islands. We provide recommendations for fisheries practitioners who wish to improve women’s inclusivity in CBFM by engaging with gender power structures.