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Amoah JO, Addai-Mununkum T, Oduro GY, Odoi A, Ansah JW, Takyiakwaa D, Sakyi-Djan P. Effects of COVID-19 on coastal livelihoods in the central region of Ghana. Soc Sci Humanit Open 2023; 7:100443. [PMID: 36816100 PMCID: PMC9915114 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak effects and related state responses, especially mobility restriction interventions, contributed to disruption in livelihoods in the coastal communities in Ghana. This paper uses an ethnographic approach to analyse the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and coping strategies adopted by small-scale fishers, fish traders and processors. We argued that focusing solely on the livelihoods of formal sector workers is problematic because it fails to consider the dynamics of informal coastal workers. Findings indicate that fishers, fish traders and processors experienced various effects on food, income, police harassment, and coping strategies, including migration, resorting to reusable face masks and food-compromising practices. Infectious diseases such as COVID-19 impact coastal people and their livelihoods. Therefore, implementing social protection measures to mitigate the effects of pandemics on livelihoods should be better coordinated and well-targeted to reach the most vulnerable. Findings from this study offer pointers to position preparedness and response efforts to future outbreaks in a similar context.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Oti Amoah
- Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation (CEGRAD), University of Cape Coast, Ghana,Centre for African and International Studies, University of Cape Coast, Ghana,Corresponding author. Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation (CEGRAD), University of Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Theresah Addai-Mununkum
- Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation (CEGRAD), University of Cape Coast, Ghana,Department of English, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Georgina Yaa Oduro
- Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation (CEGRAD), University of Cape Coast, Ghana,Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Amanda Odoi
- Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation (CEGRAD), University of Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - John Windie Ansah
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Dorothy Takyiakwaa
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Pearl Sakyi-Djan
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
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2
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Thow AM, Ravuvu A, Ofa SV, Andrew N, Reeve E, Tutuo J, Brewer T. Food trade among Pacific Island countries and territories: implications for food security and nutrition. Global Health 2022; 18:104. [PMID: 36517886 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-022-00891-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is growing attention to intra-regional trade in food. However, the relationship between such trade and food and nutrition is understudied. In this paper, we present an analysis of intra-regional food trade in the Pacific region, where there are major concerns regarding the nutritional implications of international food trade. Using a new regional database, we examine trends in food trade among Pacific Island Counties and Territories (PICTs) relative to extra-regional trade. RESULTS Intra-regional trade represents a small, but increasing proportion of total imports. The major food group traded within the Pacific is cereal grains and flour, which represented 51% of total intra-regional food trade in 2018. Processed and prepared foods, sweetened or flavoured beverages, processed fish, and sugar and confectionary are also traded in large quantities among PICTs. Trade in root crops is negligible, and overall intra-regional trade of healthy foods is limited, both in terms of tonnage and relative to imports from outside the region. Fiji remains the main source of intra-regional imports into PICTs, particularly for non-traditional staple foods. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the growth in trade of staple foods intra-regionally, indicating a role for Fiji (in particular) in regional food security. Within this overall pattern, there is considerable opportunity to enhance intra-regional trade in traditional staple foods, namely root crops. Looking forward, the current food system disruption arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and associated policy measures has highlighted the long-term lack of investment in agriculture, and suggests an increased role for regional approaches in fostering trade in healthy foods.
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3
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Picchioni F, Goulao LF, Roberfroid D. The impact of COVID-19 on diet quality, food security and nutrition in low and middle income countries: A systematic review of the evidence. Clin Nutr 2022; 41:2955-2964. [PMID: 34535329 PMCID: PMC8390094 DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2021.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The current global pandemic of Coronavirus (COVID-19), and measures adopted to reduce its spread, threaten the nutritional status of populations in Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Documenting how the COVID-19 affects diets, nutrition and food security can help generating evidence-informed recommendations for mitigating interventions and policies. METHODS We carried out a systematic literature review. A structured search strategy was applied in MEDLINE (Pubmed®), EMBASE®, Scopus® and Web of Science®. Grey literature was retrieved by screening a pre-set list of institutions involved in monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nutrition and food security. The first search was done on 20th August 2020, and updated in mid-November 2020 and mid-January 2021. All research steps were described as recommended in the PRISMA statement. RESULTS Out of the 2085 references identified, thirty-five primary studies were included. In spite of their heterogeneity, studies converge to demonstrate a detrimental effect of COVID-19 pandemic and associated containment measures on diet quality and food insecurity. One of the major direct effects of COVID-19 on food and nutrition outcomes has been through its impact on employment, income generating activities and associated purchasing power. Other channels of impact, such as physical access, availability and affordability of food provided a heterogeneous picture and were assessed via binary and often simplistic questions. The impacts of COVID-19 on food systems and diets manifested with various intensity degrees, duration and in different forms. Factors contributing to these variations between and within countries were: 1) timing, duration and stringency of national COVID-19 restriction measures and policies to mitigate their adverse impacts; 2) context specific food value chain responses to domestic and international containment measures; 3) differentiated impacts of restriction measures on different groups, along lines of gender, age, socio-economic status and employment conditions. Shorter value chains and traditional smallholder farms were somewhat more resilient in the face of COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the impact of the pandemic has been particularly adverse on women, individuals with a low socio-economic status, informal workers and young adults that relied on daily wages. Finally, there were heterogeneous government responses to curb the virus and to mitigate the damaging effects of the pandemic. It has been demonstrated that existing and well-functioning social protection programmes and public distribution of food can buffer the adverse effects on food insecurity. But social safety nets cannot be effective on their own and there is a need for broader food systems interventions and investments to support sustainable and inclusive food systems to holistically achieve food and nutrition security. CONCLUSION The current economic and heath crisis impacted diet quality and food security. This raises concerns about long term impacts on access to and affordability of nutrient-rich, healthy diets and their health implications. Women and individuals with a low socio-economic are likely to be the most at risk of food insecurity. Social safety nets can be effective to protect them and must be urgently implemented. We advocate for improved data collection to identify vulnerable groups and measure how interventions are successful in protecting them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiorella Picchioni
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK,Corresponding author. Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK
| | - Luis F. Goulao
- LEAF (Linking Landscape Environment Agriculture and Food) Research Centre, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Dominique Roberfroid
- Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Belgium,University of Namur, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Belgium
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Steenbergen DJ, Raubani J, Gereva S, Naviti W, Arthur C, Arudere A, Ham J, Joy L, Lalavanua W, Neihapi P, Seko A, Terashima H, Andrew NL. Tracing innovation pathways behind fisheries co-management in Vanuatu. Ambio 2022; 51:2359-2375. [PMID: 36138263 PMCID: PMC9510257 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-022-01788-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Co-management approaches have become a core part of coastal fisheries policy and planning practice in Vanuatu. With a long history of supporting community based fisheries management (CBFM), we trace its evolution in Vanuatu to understand how new structures and processes become adopted at scale. A theory of scaling for CBFM guides the analysis of regime shifts over time. We discuss planning for sustained spread under a national programme by categorising multiple drivers of change through three intervention pathways focussed, respectively, on developing (i) an enabling environment, (ii) institutional and individual capacity, and (iii) focussed innovative action in smaller targeted constituencies. Whilst we argue that local fisheries co-management institutions balance competing interests, and so differ amongst places, we also recognise the importance of connectivity and continuity. The realisation of a national programme therefore requires patchworks of siloed projects to be knitted together into coordinated programmatic approaches that strategically integrate activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk J. Steenbergen
- Australian Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong (UOW), North Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500 Australia
| | - Jacob Raubani
- Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), Honiara, Solomon Islands
| | - Sompert Gereva
- Vanuatu Fisheries Department, Mingkai Building, Teoma Street, PO Box 9045, Port-Vila, Vanuatu
| | - William Naviti
- Vanuatu Fisheries Department, Mingkai Building, Teoma Street, PO Box 9045, Port-Vila, Vanuatu
| | - Christopher Arthur
- Vanuatu Fisheries Department, Mingkai Building, Teoma Street, PO Box 9045, Port-Vila, Vanuatu
| | - Ajay Arudere
- Vanuatu Fisheries Department, Mingkai Building, Teoma Street, PO Box 9045, Port-Vila, Vanuatu
| | - Jayven Ham
- Vanuatu Fisheries Department, Mingkai Building, Teoma Street, PO Box 9045, Port-Vila, Vanuatu
| | - Lucy Joy
- Vanuatu Fisheries Department, Mingkai Building, Teoma Street, PO Box 9045, Port-Vila, Vanuatu
| | - Watisoni Lalavanua
- Pacific Community-Fisheries Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystem Division (SPC-FAME), CPS B.P. D5, 98848 Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Pita Neihapi
- Vanuatu Fisheries Department, Mingkai Building, Teoma Street, PO Box 9045, Port-Vila, Vanuatu
| | - Akiya Seko
- IC Net Limited, Land Axis Tower, 27th Floor 11-2 Shintoshin, Chuo-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama 330-6027 Japan
| | - Hiroaki Terashima
- IC Net Limited, Land Axis Tower, 27th Floor 11-2 Shintoshin, Chuo-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama 330-6027 Japan
| | - Neil L. Andrew
- Australian Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong (UOW), North Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500 Australia
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5
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Jiang Q, Xu Z, Ye G, Pahlow M, Hu M, Qu S. A systematic scoping review of environmental and socio-economic effects of COVID-19 on the global ocean-human system. Sci Total Environ 2022; 849:157925. [PMID: 35952896 PMCID: PMC9359760 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The global outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has strongly affected human lives. The restrictions taken to slow down the spread of the virus impact socio-economic activities and the environment. A comprehensive review of these COVID-19 impacts on the ocean-human system is lacking. The current study fills this gap by synthesizing the environmental and socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global ocean by conducting a systemic scoping review of 92 published articles. From a geospatial perspective, the studies covered a total of 37 countries, mainly from Asia, Europe, and North America, with a particular focus on the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. From an environmental perspective, both positive and negative effects on global oceans were summarized. Notably, improved coastal water quality and reduced underwater noise were reported. On the other hand, the increasing COVID-19-related medical waste such as personal protective equipment leads to severe pollution, which threatens the marine ecosystem and wildlife. From a socioeconomic perspective, the impacts of the pandemic were negative throughout with marine tourism and the fishery industry being severely disrupted. Coastal communities suffered from loss of income, unemployment, inequalities and health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic offers an opportunity for transformation of management and economic practices in order to save our ocean and boost progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14). Future research should include other sectors such as marine biodiversity, marine renewable energy, climate change, and blue economy development of Small Island Developing States. Effective policies and strategies across land and ocean around the world need to be developed and implemented to enhance resilience of the human-ocean system and to achieve post-pandemic global sustainable ocean development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qutu Jiang
- Department of Geography, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; HKU Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Zhenci Xu
- Department of Geography, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; HKU Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518057, China; Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen 518000, China.
| | - Guanqiong Ye
- Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316021, China
| | - Markus Pahlow
- Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | - Mingzhao Hu
- Department of Statistics and Applied Probability, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, United States
| | - Shen Qu
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
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6
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Knutsson P, Bavinck M. Impacts of COVID-19 on people and sea: marine social science imaginations. Marit Stud 2022; 21:155-158. [PMID: 35601845 PMCID: PMC9114292 DOI: 10.1007/s40152-022-00270-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Per Knutsson
- School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 700, 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Maarten Bavinck
- Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, Postbus 15629, 1001 Amsterdam, NC Netherlands
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7
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Israngkura A. Marine resource recovery in Southern Thailand during COVID-19 and policy recommendations. Mar Policy 2022; 137:104972. [PMID: 35125620 PMCID: PMC8801303 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2022.104972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 and subsequent government health containment measures have slowed down economic activities worldwide, particularly tourism. With the number of foreign tourists entering Thailand during 2020 and 2021 greatly diminished, the number of tourists at marine and coastal attractions in Southern Thailand has declined as well. This study found evidence of a relationship between the decline of the number of tourists and marine resource recovery. This recovery appears in the form of cleaner beaches, clearer seawater and increased sighting of marine animals. Between 2020 and 2021, official reports found increased sighting of dugongs, dolphins, blacktip reef sharks, whale sharks, leopard sharks, sea turtles, green turtles, hawksbill turtles, and false killer whales at marine national parks in Southern Thailand. The study also found that, prior to the COVD-19 outbreak, the number of tourists at Patong Beach and Maya Bay exceeded their tourism carrying capacities. Finally, this study proposes eight policy measures related to tourism management for marine resource sustainability: conservation and recreation zoning, enforcing marine park closure, redesigning marine park entrance fee systems, ensuring adequate recreational facilities, stricter enforcement of the law, promoting alternative tourism sites, encouraging more inclusivity and participation in decision making processes, and enhancing public awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adis Israngkura
- Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), Bangkok, Thailand
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8
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Steenbergen DJ, Song AM, Andrew N. A theory of scaling for community-based fisheries management. Ambio 2022; 51:666-677. [PMID: 34085210 PMCID: PMC8174539 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01563-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Community-based approaches to fisheries management has emerged as a mainstream strategy to govern dispersed, diverse and dynamic small scale fisheries. However, amplifying local community led sustainability outcomes remains an enduring challenge. We seek to fill a theoretical gap in the conceptualization of 'scaling up community-based fisheries management'. We draw on literature of agriculture innovations to provide a framework that takes into account process-driven and structural change occurring across multiple levels of governance, as well as different phases of scaling. We hypothesize that successful scaling requires engagement with all aspects of a governing regime, coalescing a range of actors, and therefore, is an enterprise that is larger than its parts. To demonstrate where the framework offers value, we illustrate the development of community-based fisheries management in Vanuatu according to the framework's main scaling dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk J. Steenbergen
- Australian Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong (UOW), North Wollongong, NSW 2500 Australia
| | - Andrew M. Song
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007 Australia
| | - Neil Andrew
- Australian Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong (UOW), North Wollongong, NSW 2500 Australia
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9
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Ferguson CE, Tuxson T, Mangubhai S, Jupiter S, Govan H, Bonito V, Alefaio S, Anjiga M, Booth J, Boslogo T, Boso D, Brenier A, Caginitoba A, Ciriyawa A, Fahai'ono JB, Fox M, George A, Eriksson H, Hughes A, Joseph E, Kadannged S, Kubunavanua E, Loni S, Meo S, Micheli F, Nagombi E, Omaro R, Ride A, Sapul A, Singeo A, Stone K, Tabunakawai-Vakalalabure M, Tuivuna M, Vieux C, Vitukawalu VB, Waide M. Local practices and production confer resilience to rural Pacific food systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mar Policy 2022; 137:104954. [PMID: 35035031 PMCID: PMC8746868 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2022.104954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Resilience of food systems is key to ensuring food security through crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented shock that reveals varying levels of resilience of increasingly interconnected food systems across the globe. We contribute to the ongoing debate about whether increased connectivity reduces or enhances resilience in the context of rural Pacific food systems, while examining how communities have adapted to the global shocks associated with the pandemic to ensure food security. We conducted 609 interviews across 199 coastal villages from May to October 2020 in Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Tuvalu to understand community-level impacts and adaptations during the first 5-10 months of the COVID-19 crisis. We found that local food production practices and food sharing conferred resilience, and that imported foods could aid or inhibit resilience. Communities in countries more reliant on imports were almost twice as likely to report food insecurity compared to those least reliant. However, in places dealing with a concurrent cyclone, local food systems were impaired, and imported foods proved critical. Our findings suggest that policy in the Pacific should bolster sustainable local food production and practices. Pacific states should avoid becoming overly reliant on food imports, while having measures in place to support food security after disasters, supplementing locally produced and preserved foods with imported foods when necessary. Developing policies that promote resilient food systems can help prepare communities for future shocks, including those anticipated with climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Teri Tuxson
- Locally Managed Marine Area Network International, Suva, Fiji
| | | | - Stacy Jupiter
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Suva, Fiji
| | - Hugh Govan
- Locally Managed Marine Area Network International, Suva, Fiji
- University of the South Pacific, School of Government, Development & International Affairs, Suva, Fiji
| | | | | | - Maxine Anjiga
- Papua New Guinea Centre for Locally Managed Areas Inc., Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
| | - Jonathan Booth
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Suva, Fiji
| | - Tracey Boslogo
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Suva, Fiji
| | | | | | | | - Ana Ciriyawa
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Suva, Fiji
| | | | - Margaret Fox
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Suva, Fiji
- Pacific Community, Suva, Fiji
| | - Andy George
- Kosrae Conservation and Safety Organisation, Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia
| | - Hampus Eriksson
- WorldFish, Honiara, Solomon Islands
- Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources & Security, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Alec Hughes
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Suva, Fiji
| | - Eugene Joseph
- Locally Managed Marine Area Network of Pohnpei, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia
| | - Sean Kadannged
- Tamil Resource Conservation Trust, Yap, Federated States of Micronesia
| | | | | | | | - Fiorenza Micheli
- Stanford University, Stanford, United States
- Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University, United States
| | - Elizah Nagombi
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Suva, Fiji
| | - Rebecca Omaro
- Papua New Guinea Centre for Locally Managed Areas Inc., Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
| | | | - Annisah Sapul
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Suva, Fiji
| | | | - Karen Stone
- Tamil Resource Conservation Trust, Yap, Federated States of Micronesia
| | | | | | - Caroline Vieux
- Locally Managed Marine Area Network International, Suva, Fiji
| | | | - McKenzie Waide
- Papua New Guinea Centre for Locally Managed Areas Inc., Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
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10
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Ferguson CE, Tuxson T, Mangubhai S, Jupiter S, Govan H, Bonito V, Alefaio S, Anjiga M, Booth J, Boslogo T, Boso D, Brenier A, Caginitoba A, Ciriyawa A, Fahai'ono JB, Fox M, George A, Eriksson H, Hughes A, Joseph E, Kadannged S, Kubunavanua E, Loni S, Meo S, Micheli F, Nagombi E, Omaro R, Ride A, Sapul A, Singeo A, Stone K, Tabunakawai-Vakalalabure M, Tuivuna M, Vieux C, Vitukawalu VB, Waide M. Local practices and production confer resilience to rural Pacific food systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mar Policy 2022; 137:104954. [PMID: 35035031 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2022.104954get] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Resilience of food systems is key to ensuring food security through crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented shock that reveals varying levels of resilience of increasingly interconnected food systems across the globe. We contribute to the ongoing debate about whether increased connectivity reduces or enhances resilience in the context of rural Pacific food systems, while examining how communities have adapted to the global shocks associated with the pandemic to ensure food security. We conducted 609 interviews across 199 coastal villages from May to October 2020 in Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Tuvalu to understand community-level impacts and adaptations during the first 5-10 months of the COVID-19 crisis. We found that local food production practices and food sharing conferred resilience, and that imported foods could aid or inhibit resilience. Communities in countries more reliant on imports were almost twice as likely to report food insecurity compared to those least reliant. However, in places dealing with a concurrent cyclone, local food systems were impaired, and imported foods proved critical. Our findings suggest that policy in the Pacific should bolster sustainable local food production and practices. Pacific states should avoid becoming overly reliant on food imports, while having measures in place to support food security after disasters, supplementing locally produced and preserved foods with imported foods when necessary. Developing policies that promote resilient food systems can help prepare communities for future shocks, including those anticipated with climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Teri Tuxson
- Locally Managed Marine Area Network International, Suva, Fiji
| | | | - Stacy Jupiter
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Suva, Fiji
| | - Hugh Govan
- Locally Managed Marine Area Network International, Suva, Fiji
- University of the South Pacific, School of Government, Development & International Affairs, Suva, Fiji
| | | | | | - Maxine Anjiga
- Papua New Guinea Centre for Locally Managed Areas Inc., Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
| | - Jonathan Booth
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Suva, Fiji
| | - Tracey Boslogo
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Suva, Fiji
| | | | | | | | - Ana Ciriyawa
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Suva, Fiji
| | | | - Margaret Fox
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Suva, Fiji
- Pacific Community, Suva, Fiji
| | - Andy George
- Kosrae Conservation and Safety Organisation, Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia
| | - Hampus Eriksson
- WorldFish, Honiara, Solomon Islands
- Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources & Security, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Alec Hughes
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Suva, Fiji
| | - Eugene Joseph
- Locally Managed Marine Area Network of Pohnpei, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia
| | - Sean Kadannged
- Tamil Resource Conservation Trust, Yap, Federated States of Micronesia
| | | | | | | | - Fiorenza Micheli
- Stanford University, Stanford, United States
- Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University, United States
| | - Elizah Nagombi
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Suva, Fiji
| | - Rebecca Omaro
- Papua New Guinea Centre for Locally Managed Areas Inc., Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
| | | | - Annisah Sapul
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Suva, Fiji
| | | | - Karen Stone
- Tamil Resource Conservation Trust, Yap, Federated States of Micronesia
| | | | | | - Caroline Vieux
- Locally Managed Marine Area Network International, Suva, Fiji
| | | | - McKenzie Waide
- Papua New Guinea Centre for Locally Managed Areas Inc., Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
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Das BK, Roy A, Som S, Chandra G, Kumari S, Sarkar UK, Bhattacharjya BK, Das AK, Pandit A. Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on small-scale fishers (SSF) engaged in floodplain wetland fisheries: evidences from three states in India. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2022; 29:8452-8463. [PMID: 34490561 PMCID: PMC8421015 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16074-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented human health crisis in recent global history with rippling social and economic effects. The outbreak in India has resulted in emergency lockdown in the country for more than 2 months, and that caused decline in the catch, demand, and supply of fish. It has severely altered the life and livelihoods of the floodplain wetland fishers. These floodplain wetlands play a key role in socio-economic development of stakeholders, by generating employment and livelihood in the studied regions. In the present study, a systematic assessment was conducted to identify the impact of lockdown on floodplain wetland fisheries in India with the aim to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on wetland fishing, fisheries production, income, and food access. We conducted a rapid telephonic survey covering176 wetland fishers in 3 states to document the early impacts of the pandemic and policy responses on floodplain wetland fisher households. The majority of fishers report negative impacts on production, sales, and incomes. Fishers of three Indian states Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam lost 20, 25, and 9 fishing days, respectively. About 70, 60, and 55 % fishers of floodplain wetlands of the three states admitted that lockdown made them partially jobless. Fish harvest during March to May was 32, 44, and 20 % lower than the previous years in Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam. The fishers of Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam lost income of INR 10000/-, 12500/-, and 4500/- due to lockdown. The analysis also showed that 25% of fishers each responded moderate to severe psychological impact and anxiety symptoms due to COVID-19. Demand supply gap during the lockdown led to the in 20-40 % increase in farm gate price of fishes at the wetland level. The present study is the first of its kind in India to systematically assess the impact and discusses several magnitudes on floodplain wetland fisher livelihood, income, and food access and suggests strategies and decision support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basanta Kumar Das
- ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Monirampur, Barrackpore, Kolkata, 700120, India.
| | - Aparna Roy
- ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Monirampur, Barrackpore, Kolkata, 700120, India
| | - Sukanya Som
- ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Monirampur, Barrackpore, Kolkata, 700120, India
| | - Ganesh Chandra
- ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Monirampur, Barrackpore, Kolkata, 700120, India
| | - Suman Kumari
- ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Monirampur, Barrackpore, Kolkata, 700120, India
| | - Uttam Kumar Sarkar
- ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Monirampur, Barrackpore, Kolkata, 700120, India
| | | | - Archan Kanti Das
- ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Monirampur, Barrackpore, Kolkata, 700120, India
| | - Arun Pandit
- ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Monirampur, Barrackpore, Kolkata, 700120, India
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12
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Lau J, Sutcliffe S, Barnes M, Mbaru E, Muly I, Muthiga N, Wanyonyi S, Cinner JE. COVID-19 impacts on coastal communities in Kenya. Mar Policy 2021; 134:104803. [PMID: 34566239 PMCID: PMC8455284 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 is continuing to have far-reaching impacts around the world, including on small-scale fishing communities. This study details the findings from 39 in-depth interviews with community members, community leaders, and fish traders in five communities in Kenya about their experiences since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, 2020. The interviews were conducted by mobile phone between late August and early October 2020. In each community, people were impacted by curfews, rules about gathering, closed travel routes, and bans on certain activities. Fish trade and fisheries livelihoods were greatly disrupted. Respondents from all communities emphasized how COVID-19 had disrupted relationships between fishers, traders, and customers; changed market demand; and ultimately made fishing and fish trading livelihoods very difficult to sustain. While COVID-19 impacted different groups in the communities-i.e., fishers, female fish traders, and male fish traders-all experienced a loss of income and livelihoods, reduced cash flow, declining food security, and impacts on wellbeing. As such, although small-scale fisheries can act as a crucial safety net in times of stress, the extent of COVID-19 disruptions to alternative and informal livelihoods stemmed cash flow across communities, and meant that fishing was unable to fulfil a safety net function as it may have done during past disruptions. As the pandemic continues to unfold, ensuring that COVID-19 safe policies and protocols support continued fishing or diversification into other informal livelihoods, and that COVID-19 support reaches the most vulnerable, will be critical in safeguarding the wellbeing of families in these coastal communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Lau
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
- WorldFish, Batu Maung, Malaysia
| | - Sarah Sutcliffe
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Michele Barnes
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Emmanuel Mbaru
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa, Kenya
| | - Innocent Muly
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Program, Mombasa, Kenya
| | - Nyawira Muthiga
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Program, Bronx, NY, USA
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Program, Mombasa, Kenya
| | | | - Joshua E Cinner
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
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13
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Abstract
Rapid assessments have been emerging on the effects of COVID-19, yet rigorous analyses remain scant. Here, rigorous evidence of the impacts of COVID-19 on several livelihood outcomes are presented, with a particular focus on heterogenous effects of COVID-19. We use a household-level panel dataset consisting of 880 data points collected in rural Bangladesh in 2018 and 2020, and employ difference-in-differences with fixed effects regression techniques. Results suggest that COVID-19 had significant and heterogenous effects on livelihood outcomes. Agricultural production and share of production sold were reduced, especially for rice crops. Further, diet diversity and education expenditure were reduced for the total sample. Households primarily affected by (fear of) sickness had a significantly lower agricultural production, share of crop market sales, and lower health and education expenditure, compared to households affected by other COVID-19 effects, such as travel restrictions. In turn, (fear of) sickness and the correlated reduced incidence of leaving the house, resulted in higher off-farm incomes suggesting that households engage in less physically demanding and localized work. Policy-makers need to be cognizant of these heterogenous COVID-19 effects and formulate policies that are targeted at those households that are most vulnerable (e.g., unable/willing to leave the house due to (fear of) sickness).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Gatto
- International Potato Center, Hanoi, Vietnam
- * E-mail:
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14
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Priodarshini R, Biswas B, Sánchez Higuera AM, Mallick B. Livelihood challenges of 'double strike' disasters: Evidence from rural communities of southwest coastal Bangladesh during the Covid-19 pandemic and cyclone Amphan. Curr Res Environ Sustain 2021; 3:100100. [PMID: 36570858 PMCID: PMC9767319 DOI: 10.1016/j.crsust.2021.100100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The Covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected livelihoods in the Global South and exacerbated the effects of natural disaster. This study examines the 'double strike' of the Covid-19 lockdown and 'super-cyclone' Amphan on the 12 villages of Dakshin Bedkashi Union, southwest Bangladesh. It employs questionnaire surveys to assess the impact of the compound disaster on rural livelihoods over a period of five months, comparing pre-lockdown, post-lockdown, and post-Amphan phases. The results demonstrate the severe impact of the pandemic on income, occupation, and workdays, and consequently on livelihood resilience leading up to Amphan. Although effects vary moderately by livelihood category, village, and socio-spatial characteristics, overall rates of income reduction (58%) and occupation loss (77%) between the advent of the lockdown and the aftermath of Amphan are high. Thus, livelihood resilience to the double strike is generally poor. The study analyses the predictors of lost working days to illuminate the influences on livelihood resilience throughout the double strike. We conclude that the pandemic has presented novel challenges to this region, complicating vulnerability to more common cyclonic natural hazards. Finding that the degree of livelihood diversification is low in the sample, we recommend implementing diversification policies and strengthening local networks and community trust to better anticipate and combat the complex, varied impacts of double strike scenarios in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rup Priodarshini
- International Centre for Climate Change and Development, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Ana Mariá Sánchez Higuera
- Chair of Environmental Development and Risk Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Technische Universität Dresden, 01217 Dresden, Germany
| | - Bishawjit Mallick
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow CU Population Center Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado Boulder Campus, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Chair of Environmental Development and Risk Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Technische Universität Dresden, 01217 Dresden, Germany
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15
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Love DC, Allison EH, Asche F, Belton B, Cottrell RS, Froehlich HE, Gephart JA, Hicks CC, Little DC, Nussbaumer EM, Pinto da Silva P, Poulain F, Rubio A, Stoll JS, Tlusty MF, Thorne-Lyman AL, Troell M, Zhang W. Emerging COVID-19 impacts, responses, and lessons for building resilience in the seafood system. Glob Food Sec 2021; 28:100494. [PMID: 34513582 PMCID: PMC8417121 DOI: 10.1016/j.gfs.2021.100494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns are creating health and economic crises that threaten food and nutrition security. The seafood sector provides important sources of nutrition and employment, especially in low-income countries, and is highly globalized allowing shocks to propagate. We studied COVID-19-related disruptions, impacts, and responses to the seafood sector from January through May 2020, using a food system resilience 'action cycle' framework as a guide. We find that some supply chains, market segments, companies, small-scale actors and civil society have shown initial signs of greater resilience than others. COVID-19 has also highlighted the vulnerability of certain groups working in- or dependent on the seafood sector. We discuss early coping and adaptive responses combined with lessons from past shocks that could be considered when building resilience in the sector. We end with strategic research needs to support learning from COVID-19 impacts and responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Love
- Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21202, USA.,Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | | | - Frank Asche
- Food Systems Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611-057, USA.,Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611-057, USA.,Department of Safety, Economics and Planning, University of Stavanger, 4036, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Ben Belton
- WorldFish, Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang, 11960, Malaysia.,Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, Michigan State University, MI, USA
| | - Richard S Cottrell
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, USA.,Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Halley E Froehlich
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA.,Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - Jessica A Gephart
- Department of Environmental Science, American University, Washington DC, 20016, USA
| | - Christina C Hicks
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA14YW, UK
| | - David C Little
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK94LA, Scotland, UK
| | - Elizabeth M Nussbaumer
- Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21202, USA.,Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Patricia Pinto da Silva
- NOAA Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
| | - Florence Poulain
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Officer, Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Joshua S Stoll
- School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA
| | - Michael F Tlusty
- School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, 02125, USA
| | - Andrew L Thorne-Lyman
- Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21202, USA.,Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.,Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Max Troell
- Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics, The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, 104 05, Stockholm, Sweden.,Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Wenbo Zhang
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
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16
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Islam MM, Khan MI, Barman A. Impact of novel coronavirus pandemic on aquaculture and fisheries in developing countries and sustainable recovery plans: Case of Bangladesh. Mar Policy 2021; 131:104611. [PMID: 36570436 PMCID: PMC9761865 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Like most sectors, the aquaculture and fisheries sector especially in developing countries like Bangladesh is believed to have been severely affected by this unique coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. To overcome the adverse impacts of COVID-19, the aquaculture and fisheries economy needs urgent recovery plans which this study focusses on using a mixed-method including online questionnaire surveys, face-to-face and telephonic interviews and focus group discussions during June - November 2020. This study reveals some positive impacts on ecosystem and fish stock (e.g., increase in fish stock) due to less disturbance of fishing activities, but that are not able to bring societal benefits as all the fisheries sub-sectors are affected differently by the pandemic. There are disrupted transportation systems and increased transportation costs (around 20 - 60% higher than normal), more input and maintenance costs and less demand for/and decreased market price of fish. There are also shortages of labourers and reduced patrolling to implement fishery regulations. Cancellation of orders by foreign buyers has seriously affected the shrimp and crab sub-sectors. The fisheries-dependent people's capital assets and activities have been mostly negatively affected resulting in a worsened livelihood. This study has suggested a set of immediate and long-term changes to policy and action plans to recover this sector and sub-sectors from the pandemic considering economic, social and environmental sustainability. The findings of this study may have important implications not only for Bangladesh but also for other fisheries dependent developing countries with similar impacts by the virus like in South Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Monirul Islam
- Department of Fisheries, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | | | - Aparna Barman
- Sustainability Services Ltd., Mirpur, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh
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17
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Lopez-Ercilla I, Espinosa-Romero MJ, Fernandez Rivera-Melo FJ, Fulton S, Fernández R, Torre J, Acevedo-Rosas A, Hernández-Velasco AJ, Amador I. The voice of Mexican small-scale fishers in times of COVID-19: Impacts, responses, and digital divide. Mar Policy 2021; 131:104606. [PMID: 36313928 PMCID: PMC9587762 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically, quickly, and extensively affected fisheries, the effects of which have yet to be quantified globally, although some efforts have already been made locally and regionally. This study provides insights regarding the impacts of the pandemic in Mexican small-scale fisheries, explores community responses and digital divide. A total of 1493 interviews were conducted, and a social media analysis that reviewed 9079 posts from April to December 2020 was performed. The results show large socio-economic and environmental impacts (e.g. 89% of the markets closed in April, and 72% of respondents perceived an increase in the amount of solid waste). Women have faced increased inequalities when accessing fishing resources or healthcare. Responses have been varied and include closing communities, and fishing organizations distributing emergency funds. Fishers relate feeling very or moderately comfortable with technology and have spent more time using digital platforms during the pandemic than before. While the effects are still unfolding, there is an urgent need to breach the digital divide to guarantee equal opportunities for all. Efforts are needed to ensure that the most vulnerable groups (e.g. women, indigenous people, and elderly individuals) are not excluded from opportunities to access, use or manage resources, including technology. This global crisis may also bring opportunities for adaptation and the implementation of local solutions (e.g. reducing the fishing effort for high-value products), to prepare for future shocks. The findings in this study serve to promote development strategies that build resilience in fishing communities for healthier oceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Lopez-Ercilla
- Comunidad y Biodiversidad, A.C., Isla del Peruano 215, Guaymas 85448, Sonora, Mexico
| | | | | | - Stuart Fulton
- Comunidad y Biodiversidad, A.C., Isla del Peruano 215, Guaymas 85448, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Rebeca Fernández
- Comunidad y Biodiversidad, A.C., Isla del Peruano 215, Guaymas 85448, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Jorge Torre
- Comunidad y Biodiversidad, A.C., Isla del Peruano 215, Guaymas 85448, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Araceli Acevedo-Rosas
- Comunidad y Biodiversidad, A.C., Isla del Peruano 215, Guaymas 85448, Sonora, Mexico
| | | | - Imelda Amador
- Comunidad y Biodiversidad, A.C., Isla del Peruano 215, Guaymas 85448, Sonora, Mexico
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18
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Gordon DV. Price and revenue projections under alternative policy shocks due to the coronavirus: Canadian lobster and snow crab. Mar Policy 2021; 130:104556. [PMID: 34690404 PMCID: PMC8522118 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus will have serious consequences for the fishing industry. The purpose here is to simulate price and revenue outcomes for Canadian lobster and snow crab markets under alternative policy shocks due to the coronavirus. Predictions are based on three policy scenarios representing upper and lower bounds on the range of possible landings and economic outcomes for the period 2019-2021. Based on past research, demand equations for both the lobster and snow crab markets are used to empirically simulate price projections. The results for snow crab are startling with predicted serious declines in price and generated revenue, particularly for Québec and Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). Compared to 2018, projections suggest a decline in average revenue for 2021 of - 18% Gulf, - 32% Maritimes, - 53% Québec, and - 57% NL. The outcome for lobster is not as bleak, projections showing a 21% decline in revenue for 2020 but with recovery in 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel V Gordon
- Department of Economics, University of Calgary, Canada & Department Safety, Economics and Planning, University of Stavanger, Norway
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19
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Davila F, Bourke RM, McWilliam A, Crimp S, Robins L, van Wensveen M, Alders RG, Butler JRA. COVID-19 and food systems in Pacific Island Countries, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste: Opportunities for actions towards the sustainable development goals. Agric Syst 2021; 191:103137. [PMID: 36570634 PMCID: PMC9759494 DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted global food systems. This has led to different strategies by communities, governments, and businesses involved in food systems to mitigate and adapt to the unfolding pandemic. Small Island Developing States are particularly exposed to the conflation of risks from COVID-19 disease, economic downturns, underlying climate vulnerabilities and biosecurity risks. OBJECTIVE Our study aimed to identify the food systems vulnerabilities, impacts, and opportunities for supporting resilience and sustainable development in selected Pacific Island countries, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste. The study focused on the impacts from the first six months of the pandemic (February-July 2020), with remote data collection and analysis done between May and July 2020. METHODS We conducted 67 interviews, and triangulated information with desktop and news sources emerging at the time. We present results on the effect on smallholder livelihoods, supply chains, governance, communities and employment. Overall, the major impacts of COVID-19 have been on economies, posing risks to future food security and further hampering progress towards key Sustainable Development Goals. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS We found that unemployment and economic contraction have been the most severe effects to date, with long-term consequences for food value chains and smallholder farmers. Disruptions to tourism, labour migration, and remittances have led to varying socio-economic impacts throughout the region. Vulnerable groups, notably women, urban poor, and youth, have been disproportionately affected by unemployment. Timor-Leste has had some social protection measures, whereas in Pacific Countries these have been varied. The lockdowns and State of Emergency initially influenced the distribution and marketing of food, but local food economies are starting to stabilise. The continued functioning of international food supply chains reduced the risk of food insecurity in high import dependent nations, notably import dependent countries like Tuvalu and Kiribati. SIGNIFICANCE The results have significance for three recovery pathways. The first recovery pathway relates to revisiting value chains in light of restricted travel. The second recovery pathway exists through leveraging the adaptive capacities of communities to stimulate innovative agriculture that also integrates climate adaptation and nutrition. The third recovery pathway relates to addressing the structural challenges that perpetuate inequalities and poverty while finding new ways of implementing inclusive policies and research. Our study presents a set of comparative examples of managing a food system shock that can inform future systems-oriented research and policy for sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Davila
- Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
| | - R M Bourke
- College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Andrew McWilliam
- School of Social Science, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Steven Crimp
- Climate Change Institute, Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Lisa Robins
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | | | - Robyn G Alders
- Development Policy Centre, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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20
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Mangubhai S, Nand Y, Reddy C, Jagadish A. Politics of vulnerability: Impacts of COVID-19 and Cyclone Harold on Indo-Fijians engaged in small-scale fisheries. Environ Sci Policy 2021; 120:195-203. [PMID: 34867082 PMCID: PMC8629164 DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2021.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The global COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the shortcomings of our health, social, and economic systems. While responding to the health crisis, governments are scrambling to understand and address the knock-on economic effects from market disruptions, and respond to other major disturbances (e.g. natural disasters). We conducted 61 key informant interviews with Indo-Fijian small-scale fisheries (SSF) actors (i.e. fishers, boat owners (that may or may not fish), crew members, and traders) in May 2020, two months after Fiji got its first case of COVID-19 and a month after Cyclone Harold hit the country. We examined how these SSF groups whose access to resources depends on their ability to navigate existing social relations of power, have lived through, experienced, and responded to the two stresses. We found the main impact of COVID-19 on SSF actors was the reduction in sales of fish (73.8 % of respondents) likely a result of reduction in local consumption and/or the loss of tourism markets. Loss of purchasing power meant almost a fifth of Indo-Fijian SSF actors interviewed (comprising 44.4 % of crew members, 16.4 % fishers, 11.5 % boat owners, 8.3 % traders) were unable to obtain sufficient food to meet their families' daily needs. Many of these SSF actors do not have access to social security or similar safety nets leaving them vulnerable to the current crisis as well as to other shocks and changes. Furthermore, social inequities and power relations surrounding access to fisheries resources and government aid contributed to their vulnerability to economic stresses from COVID-19 and a severe cyclone. An understanding of early impacts of COVID-19 on SSF through an intersectional lens can assist decision-makers to quickly mobilise assistance to help people who are most vulnerable, and avoid widening inequities among social groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangeeta Mangubhai
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Fiji Country Program, 11 Ma'afu Street, Suva, Fiji
| | - Yashika Nand
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Fiji Country Program, 11 Ma'afu Street, Suva, Fiji
| | | | - Arundhati Jagadish
- The Betty and Gordon Moore Center for Science, Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA
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21
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Abstract
For decades, global food security has not been able to address the structural problem of economic access to food, resulting in a recent increase in the number of undernourished people from 2014. In addition, the FAO estimates that the number of undernourished people drastically increased by 82–132 million people in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To alleviate this dramatic growth in food insecurity, it is necessary to understand the nature of the increase in the number of malnourished during the pandemic. In order to address this, we gathered and synthesized food-security-related empirical results from the first year of the pandemic in a systematic review. The vast majority (78%) of the 51 included articles reported household food insecurity has increased (access, utilization) and/or disruption to food production (availability) was a result of households having persistently low income and not having an adequate amount of savings. These households could not afford the same quality and/or quantity of food, and a demand shortfall immediately appeared on the producer side. Producers thus had to deal not only with the direct consequences of government measures (disruption in labor flow, lack of demand of the catering sector, etc.) but also with a decline in consumption from low-income households. We conclude that the factor that most negatively affects food security during the COVID-19 pandemic is the same as the deepest structural problem of global food security: low income. Therefore, we argue that there is no need for new global food security objectives, but there is a need for an even stronger emphasis on poverty reduction and raising the wages of low-income households. This structural adjustment is the most fundamental step to recover from the COVID-19 food crises, and to avoid possible future food security crises.
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22
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Kruczkiewicz A, Klopp J, Fisher J, Mason S, McClain S, Sheekh NM, Moss R, Parks RM, Braneon C. Opinion: Compound risks and complex emergencies require new approaches to preparedness. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2106795118. [PMID: 33952695 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2106795118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
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23
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Love DC, Allison EH, Asche F, Belton B, Cottrell RS, Froehlich HE, Gephart JA, Hicks CC, Little DC, Nussbaumer EM, Pinto da Silva P, Poulain F, Rubio A, Stoll JS, Tlusty MF, Thorne-Lyman AL, Troell M, Zhang W. Emerging COVID-19 impacts, responses, and lessons for building resilience in the seafood system. Glob Food Sec 2021. [PMID: 34513582 DOI: 10.31235/osf.io/x8aew] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns are creating health and economic crises that threaten food and nutrition security. The seafood sector provides important sources of nutrition and employment, especially in low-income countries, and is highly globalized allowing shocks to propagate. We studied COVID-19-related disruptions, impacts, and responses to the seafood sector from January through May 2020, using a food system resilience 'action cycle' framework as a guide. We find that some supply chains, market segments, companies, small-scale actors and civil society have shown initial signs of greater resilience than others. COVID-19 has also highlighted the vulnerability of certain groups working in- or dependent on the seafood sector. We discuss early coping and adaptive responses combined with lessons from past shocks that could be considered when building resilience in the sector. We end with strategic research needs to support learning from COVID-19 impacts and responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Love
- Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21202, USA
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | | | - Frank Asche
- Food Systems Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611-057, USA
- Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611-057, USA
- Department of Safety, Economics and Planning, University of Stavanger, 4036, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Ben Belton
- WorldFish, Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang, 11960, Malaysia
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, Michigan State University, MI, USA
| | - Richard S Cottrell
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, USA
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Halley E Froehlich
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
- Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - Jessica A Gephart
- Department of Environmental Science, American University, Washington DC, 20016, USA
| | - Christina C Hicks
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA14YW, UK
| | - David C Little
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK94LA, Scotland, UK
| | - Elizabeth M Nussbaumer
- Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21202, USA
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Patricia Pinto da Silva
- NOAA Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
| | - Florence Poulain
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Officer, Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Joshua S Stoll
- School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA
| | - Michael F Tlusty
- School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, 02125, USA
| | - Andrew L Thorne-Lyman
- Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21202, USA
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Max Troell
- Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics, The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, 104 05, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Wenbo Zhang
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
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24
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Bose P, Roy S, Ghosh P. A Comparative NLP-Based Study on the Current Trends and Future Directions in COVID-19 Research. IEEE Access 2021; 9:78341-78355. [PMID: 34786315 PMCID: PMC8545210 DOI: 10.1109/access.2021.3082108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 is a global health crisis that has altered human life and still promises to create ripples of death and destruction in its wake. The sea of scientific literature published over a short time-span to understand and mitigate this global phenomenon necessitates concerted efforts to organize our findings and focus on the unexplored facets of the disease. In this work, we applied natural language processing (NLP) based approaches on scientific literature published on COVID-19 to infer significant keywords that have contributed to our social, economic, demographic, psychological, epidemiological, clinical, and medical understanding of this pandemic. We identify key terms appearing in COVID literature that vary in representation when compared to other virus-borne diseases such as MERS, Ebola, and Influenza. We also identify countries, topics, and research articles that demonstrate that the scientific community is still reacting to the short-term threats such as transmissibility, health risks, treatment plans, and public policies, underpinning the need for collective international efforts towards long-term immunization and drug-related challenges. Furthermore, our study highlights several long-term research directions that are urgently needed for COVID-19 such as: global collaboration to create international open-access data repositories, policymaking to curb future outbreaks, psychological repercussions of COVID-19, vaccine development for SARS-CoV-2 variants and their long-term efficacy studies, and mental health issues in both children and elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyankar Bose
- Department of Computer ScienceVirginia Commonwealth University Richmond VA 23284 USA
| | - Satyaki Roy
- Department of GeneticsUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill NC 27515 USA
| | - Preetam Ghosh
- Department of Computer ScienceVirginia Commonwealth University Richmond VA 23284 USA
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25
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Manlosa AO, Hornidge AK, Schlüter A. Aquaculture-capture fisheries nexus under Covid-19: impacts, diversity, and social-ecological resilience. Marit Stud 2021; 20:75-85. [PMID: 35300182 PMCID: PMC7811386 DOI: 10.1007/s40152-021-00213-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The Covid-19 pandemic is a global shock that is significantly affecting coastal social-ecological systems (SES) in different parts of the world. Its widespread impacts have unravelled vulnerabilities in many aspects of society, including food systems. Our study investigated the impacts of a lockdown associated with the pandemic in the province of Bulacan, in the region of Central Luzon, Philippines, where aquaculture and capture fisheries are important and interconnected sectors. In particular, we focused on impacts related to production and market. We considered people's coping strategies and the factors that enabled such strategies. Our investigation adopted a case study approach and drew on qualitative data analysed through thematic analysis. The findings revealed differentiated mechanisms through which aquaculture and capture fisheries production were impacted. Both were strongly affected by market disruptions but through slightly different ways. In effect, the lockdown provided the impetus for the uptake and spreading of practices that were previously peripheral, particularly in relation to market exchanges. The study also identified a variety of coping strategies, as well as the importance of social support in the form of food aid, financial assistance, and institutional livelihood assistance. Finally, it discusses the importance of diversity in food sources, the role of local food systems, and governance implications for foregrounding social-ecological resilience in short-term response and long-term recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisa O. Manlosa
- Social Sciences Department, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany
| | - Anna-Katharina Hornidge
- German Development Institute/Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Political Sciences and Sociology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Achim Schlüter
- Social Sciences Department, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany
- Department of Business and Economics, Jacobs University, Bremen, Germany
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26
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Farmery AK, Scott JM, Brewer TD, Eriksson H, Steenbergen DJ, Albert J, Raubani J, Tutuo J, Sharp MK, Andrew NL. Aquatic Foods and Nutrition in the Pacific. Nutrients 2020; 12:E3705. [PMID: 33266125 PMCID: PMC7761396 DOI: 10.3390/nu12123705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
National rates of aquatic food consumption in Pacific Island Countries and Territories are among the highest in the world, yet the region is suffering from extensive levels of diet-related ill health. The aim of this paper is to examine the variation in consumption patterns and in nutrient composition of aquatic foods in the Pacific, to help improve understanding of their contribution to food and nutrition security. For this examination we analysed nutrient composition data and trade data from two novel region-specific databases, as well as consumption data from national and village level surveys for two Melanesian case studies, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. Results demonstrated that consumption depends on availability and the amount and type of aquatic food consumed, and its contribution to nutrition security varies within different geographic and socio-demographic contexts. More data is needed on locally relevant species and consumption patterns, to better inform dietary guidelines and improve public health both now and into the future. Advice on aquatic food consumption must consider the nutrient composition and quantity of products consumed, as well as accessibility through local food systems, to ensure they contribute to diverse and healthy diets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K. Farmery
- Australian National Centre for Ocean Resource and Security, Faculty of Business and Law, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2522, Australia; (J.M.S.); (T.D.B.); (H.E.); (D.J.S.); (N.L.A.)
| | - Jessica M. Scott
- Australian National Centre for Ocean Resource and Security, Faculty of Business and Law, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2522, Australia; (J.M.S.); (T.D.B.); (H.E.); (D.J.S.); (N.L.A.)
| | - Tom D. Brewer
- Australian National Centre for Ocean Resource and Security, Faculty of Business and Law, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2522, Australia; (J.M.S.); (T.D.B.); (H.E.); (D.J.S.); (N.L.A.)
| | - Hampus Eriksson
- Australian National Centre for Ocean Resource and Security, Faculty of Business and Law, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2522, Australia; (J.M.S.); (T.D.B.); (H.E.); (D.J.S.); (N.L.A.)
- WorldFish, Honiara, Faculty of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, C/O Solomon Islands National University, Ranadi, Solomon Islands;
| | - Dirk J. Steenbergen
- Australian National Centre for Ocean Resource and Security, Faculty of Business and Law, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2522, Australia; (J.M.S.); (T.D.B.); (H.E.); (D.J.S.); (N.L.A.)
| | | | - Jacob Raubani
- Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems Division, The Pacific Community, Noumea Cedex 98849, New Caledonia;
| | - Jillian Tutuo
- WorldFish, Honiara, Faculty of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, C/O Solomon Islands National University, Ranadi, Solomon Islands;
| | - Michael K. Sharp
- Statistics for Development Division, The Pacific Community, Noumea Cedex 98849, New Caledonia;
| | - Neil L. Andrew
- Australian National Centre for Ocean Resource and Security, Faculty of Business and Law, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2522, Australia; (J.M.S.); (T.D.B.); (H.E.); (D.J.S.); (N.L.A.)
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