Capturing the Impacts of COVID-19 on the Fisheries Value Chain of Southeast Asia

Abstract

The Southeast Asian region has been a major contributor to the world’s total fisheries production, and most of the region’s fish and fishery products are traded not only in the international markets but also in domestic and local markets. However, the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic starting from the first quarter of 2020 in the region and also throughout the world, has impacted on the region’s fish production, especially from marine capture fisheries and aquaculture. Fishing operations at sea had encountered difficulties due to the national lockdown measures in many countries that limit the activities of fishers, especially in going out to sea to fish. Meanwhile, fish farmers have also been constrained to work outside of their homes to halt any further spread of the virus. In order to discuss and assess the impacts of COVID-19 on the fisheries and aquaculture sector of Southeast Asia, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) virtually brought together international, regional and national fisheries agencies, and industry representatives, to share information on the key impacts of the virus on the food supply chain of local, national, regional, and international trade during a Webinar organized in early July 2020. The immediate responses of the private sector to address the issues as well as medium-term mitigation measures to curb the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the region’s fisheries industry were also shared through the said Webinar.