Current Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Anticipating the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns on the Indian fisheries sector for technological and policy reforms


Affiliations
1 ICAR-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati 413 115, India
2 ICAR-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati 413 115, India
3 ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai 400 006, India
4 Fisheries Survey of India, Mumbai 400 005, India
5 Tata Trusts, Pune 411 040, India
6 Tahaan, Pune 411 038, India
 

The lockdowns imposed to contain the COVID-19 spread had an indisputably cascading effect on the aquaculture industry across the globe. It has adversely impacted the Indian fisheries sector through changing purchaser demand, supply chain disruptions, trade restrictions, and also the livelihood of millions dependent on it. However, the consequential reduced fishing will also likely help in replenishment of the aquatic biodiversity and provide the balance needed in the long-term sustenance of the fisheries sector. The technological and policy interventions in pre- and post-harvest fisheries operations are anticipated to reduce some of these negative impacts in similar lockdown scenarios.

Keywords

Aquaculture, COVID-19 lockdown, fisheries sector, policy reforms, technological interventions.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • KPMG, Potential impact of COVID-19 on the Indian economy; https://www.nicct.nl/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Potential-impactof-COVID-19-on-the-Indian-economy-1.pdf (accessed during April 2020).

  • Bondad-Reantaso, et al., Viewpoint: SARS-CoV-2 (the cause of COVID-19 in humans) is not known to infect aquatic food animals nor contaminate their products. Asian Fish. Sci., 2020, 33, 74–78; https://doi.org/10.33997/j.afs.2020.33.1.009

  • FAO, How is COVID-19 affecting the fisheries and aquaculture food systems, Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy, 2020.

  • DAHDF, Annual Report 2018–19, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India (GoI), 2019.

  • International Labour Organization, ILO Sectoral Brief: COVID-19 and the impact on agriculture and food security, 2020; http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_dialogue/---sector/documents/ briefingnote/wcms_742023.pdf (accessed on 17 April 2020).

  • Bhendarkar, M. P., Brahmane M. P., Gaikwad, B. B. and Singh, N. P., The status and prospectus of fisheries and aquaculture in Maharashtra, India. Indian J. Geo-Mar. Sci., 2020, 49(4), 567–575.

  • Bhendarkar, M. P., Gajbhiye, A. M., Chaudhari, K. J., Verma, L. and Rathod, R. H., An assessment of entrepreneurship behaviour of fisherwomen in the Ratnagiri block of Ratnagiri District, Maharashtra state, India. Asian J. Agric. Exten., Econ. Sociol., 2017, 17(3), 1–8.

  • Bhendarkar, M. P., Sarang, N., Bhosale, M., Rathod, R. H., Verma, L. and Vardia, H. K., A study on profile of socio-economic condition of fishermen in selected village in Kabirdham District, Chhattisgarh State, India. Int. J. Educ. Sci. Res., 2017, 7(6), 49– 56.

  • Raja, K., Aanand, P., Padmavathy, S., Stephen, J. and Kumar, S., Present and future market trends of Indian ornamental fish sector. Int. J. Fish. Aquat. Stud., 2019, 7(2), 6–15.

  • Vinayak, A., Aquarium trade will be worth Rs 1200 crore in a decade: expert. The Hindu, 2018; https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/aquarium-trade-will-be-worth-1200cr-in-a-decade-expert/article9699877.ece (accessed on 11 January 2018).

  • Sharma, M., Ornamental fish rearing and breeding – a new dimension to aquaculture entrepreneurship in Himachal Pradesh. Int. J. Fish. Aquat. Stud., 2020, 8(2), 157–162.

  • Gareth, J., Michael, P., Thilsted, S. H. and Belton, B., Addressing COVID-19 impacts on fish and aquatic food systems; http://blog.worldfishcenter.org/2020/04/addressing-covid-19-impactson-fish-and-aquatic-food-systems/ (accessed on 10 April 2020).

  • MPEDA, Annual Report 2017–18, Marine Products Export Development Authority, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, 2018.

  • USDA, India’s shrimp sector growing steadily. US Department of Agriculture, Office of Agricultural Affairs, New Delhi, 2017.

  • Planque, B., Fromentin, J., Cury, P., Drinkwater, K. F, Jennings, S., Perry, R. I. and Kifani, S., How does fishing alter marine populations and ecosystems sensitivity to climate? J. Mar. Syst., 2010, 79, 403–417.

  • Garcia, S. M., Zerbi, A., Aliaume, C., Do Chi, T. and Lasserre, G., The ecosystem approach to fisheries, issues, terminology, principles, institutional foundations, implementation and outlook. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper, Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy, 443, 2003.


Abstract Views: 288

PDF Views: 127




  • Anticipating the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns on the Indian fisheries sector for technological and policy reforms

Abstract Views: 288  |  PDF Views: 127

Authors

Mukesh P. Bhendarkar
ICAR-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati 413 115, India
B. B. Gaikawad
ICAR-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati 413 115, India
K. K. Ramteke
ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai 400 006, India
H. D. Joshi
Fisheries Survey of India, Mumbai 400 005, India
N. A. Ingole
Tata Trusts, Pune 411 040, India
M. P. Brahmane
ICAR-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati 413 115, India
Nishikant Gupta
Tahaan, Pune 411 038, India

Abstract


The lockdowns imposed to contain the COVID-19 spread had an indisputably cascading effect on the aquaculture industry across the globe. It has adversely impacted the Indian fisheries sector through changing purchaser demand, supply chain disruptions, trade restrictions, and also the livelihood of millions dependent on it. However, the consequential reduced fishing will also likely help in replenishment of the aquatic biodiversity and provide the balance needed in the long-term sustenance of the fisheries sector. The technological and policy interventions in pre- and post-harvest fisheries operations are anticipated to reduce some of these negative impacts in similar lockdown scenarios.

Keywords


Aquaculture, COVID-19 lockdown, fisheries sector, policy reforms, technological interventions.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv121%2Fi6%2F752-757