Report of the study on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the fisheries sector of the ASEAN-SEAFDEC member countries. Production of the top three cultivated species (ranking based on the value in 2019) in Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand from 2018 to 2020 by quantity (t) and value (USD million). Questionnaire of the study on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the fisheries sector of the ASEAN-SEAFDEC member countries (as of 24 February 2021).
Production of the top three cultivated species (ranked by 2019 value) of the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Member States.
INTRODUCTION
Proportion of people vaccinated against COVID-19 in ASEAN-SEAFDEC member countries in May 2021 (Source: Mathieu et al., 2021). As a result, COVID-19 has spread rapidly around the world and seriously affected people's lives and the economy, including the fisheries and aquaculture sector. Nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused negative impacts on the global fisheries and aquaculture sector, including fishing activities (artisanal and commercial scale), aquaculture (species, markets, financial capacity of farms), producers serving the food service sector (hotels, restaurants , catering), working conditions along the supply chain (especially for women and other vulnerable workers) and fisheries management practices as a result of restrictions imposed by governments.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on the fisheries and aquaculture sector, especially on the socio-economic conditions of stakeholders.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
COVID-19 Restriction Measures
WHO workplace guidelines – workers should stand 1m apart and not face each other; food workers should wash their hands thoroughly and regularly with alcohol-based disinfectants; workers must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks, hair nets, disposable gloves, clean overalls and boots; Nationwide partial lockdown (April 2020 – February 2021) – closure of non-essential businesses; limited number of dinners in restaurants. additional ad hoc procedures to prevent COVID-19 contamination in aquatic animals, fish and fishery products.
2549 (No. 1) (until the resolution of the COVID-19 situation) - fish farmers must comply with public health guidelines by disinfecting with chlorine the vehicles used to transport aquatic animals before entering and leaving the farm.
Fishery Statistics
- Capture fisheries
- Aquaculture
- Fisheries Trade
- Fish workers
Total seed production and top three species (ranked by value in 2019) in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand from 2018 to 2020 by quantity (million pieces) and value (million USD). The three main cultivated species were cyprinids (including barb, danio, goldfish, koi), poecilids and characins;. Total production of cultured ornamental fish and top three species (ranked by value in 2019) in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand from 2018 to 2020 by quantity (million pieces) and value (million USD ).
Farm price (USD/kg) of the top three farmed species in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand from 2018 to 2020.
Impacts of COVID-19
- Capture Fisheries
- Aquaculture
- Fish Processing Industry
- Fisheries Trade
- Gender Roles
There was no change in the duration/period of fishing activity, quantity of catch per fishing trip and price of catch in wholesale markets/landing centres. For Thailand, there was no change in the cost of fishing operations and the amount of catch per fishing trip. For Malaysia, there was no change in the cost of fishing operations, quantity of catch per fishing trip and price of catch in wholesale markets/landing centres.
For Thailand, there was no change in the number of active fishing vessels in operation, the costs of fishing operations and fishers' logistics/access to markets. For Lao PDR, there was a decrease in fish farmers' access to domestic markets. There was a decline in fish farmers' logistics/access to domestic/international markets because cross-country travel was prohibited.
Nevertheless, there were no changes in the number of operating plants/factories, processing lines, production volume and prices of processed fish and fishery products. In addition, logistics/consumer access to markets has decreased due to social distancing measures; this is how consumers used online marketing. The supply of fish and fishery products, the selling prices of fish and fishery products, and the liquidity and income of fish merchants were not changed.
For Singapore, there was a decrease in demand for fish and fish products because demand from restaurants had decreased; therefore, e-commerce was exploited. Nevertheless, there was no change in the types of fish and fish products exported and imported.
Mitigation Measures and Support Programs
Business support for fishermen: urgent projects to stabilize the livelihood of fishermen by providing funds and temporary payment of fishermen's self-reservation and extending the deadline for making the self-reservation upon conclusion of the contract. Malaysia • Classifying aspects of the fisheries value chain as essential services: Fishing and aquaculture activities have been permitted since the March 2020 Movement Control Order came into force to ensure that food security is not compromised and to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the livelihoods of fishermen and fish farmers. Alternative marketing and distribution routes: establishing a joint inter-ministerial committee to facilitate logistics services related to fresh produce and food, establishing a new supply chain from producers to hypermarkets (wet markets, night markets and some wholesale markets that have been closed) and establishing cooperation among online shopping platforms for the marketing of fresh produce.
Increase in cost of living allowance for fishermen: Government approval of increase in monthly cost of living allowance for small scale and inland water fishermen by the Ministry of Finance. Employment Support Scheme (February 2020–March 2021): support for employers to retain local employees (Singapore citizens/permanent residents) during the period of economic uncertainty by co-financing part of the first USD 3,400 gross monthly wages paid to each employee is paid. Thailand • Distribution channels (December 2020–present): established by the Department of Fisheries (DOF) Thailand for the direct sale of shrimp, whiteleg shrimp and Nile tilapia from fish farmers to consumers in 20 provinces where selling prices were lower than market prices.
Certificate Issuance (December 2020–present): issued by DOF to operators following measures to prevent contamination with COVID-19 in fish and fishery products including aquaculture farms, fishing vessels, fish markets, piers and central markets to build consumer confidence in domestic and foreign markets. New market channel (December 2020–April 2021): distribution of excess supply of fish and fishery products. Fish Store (December 2020–present): online market platform developed by DOF where fishermen and fish farmers sell their products to avoid risky fresh markets and contact customers directly without dealing with middlemen .
Strengthening cooperation between fisheries stakeholders (December 2020-April 2021): Factories inform fish farmers of the required quantity of raw materials so that fish farmers can manage their production capacity and avoid excess supply. Extension of validity of registration, permits and certificates in accordance with official announcements and orders of the Department of Fisheries, applicable to certificates and permits expiring from March 2020 to date.
Contribution of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Fishery Statistics
Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Recommended Mitigation Measures
- Capture Fisheries
- Fish Processing
- Fisheries Trade
- Gender Roles
Fishermen's income from small-scale fishing was not affected in Brunei Darussalam, but decreased slightly in Malaysia and decreased in Myanmar and Thailand. Liquidity and income of small-scale fishers from other activities were stable in Brunei Darussalam but declined in Myanmar. Decreased quantity of seed production o Decrease in the income of fish farmers o Lack of supply of seed.
The duration of fish processing operations was not affected in Brunei Darussalam, but decreased slightly in Malaysia and decreased in Myanmar. The processing lines were not affected in Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia, but decreased in Myanmar. The types of processed fish and fishery products decreased in Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia, but remained the same in Malaysia.
The number of fishmongers was not affected in Brunei Darussalam, but had decreased in Indonesia and slightly increased in Malaysia. Demand for fish and fish products was unaffected in Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia, but was down slightly in Malaysia and Thailand and down in Singapore. There was no change in the selling price of fish and fish products in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia, but there was a slight decrease in Thailand.
Decrease in the number of functional markets o Decrease in income of fish traders o Decrease in consumer access to. Traceability of exported/imported fish and fishery products remained stable in Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia, declining in Malaysia.
Mitigation measures and support programs
What are the COVID-19 containment measures implemented by your country that have impacted small-scale capture fisheries. What is the apparent impact of COVID-19 on the small-scale capture fisheries of your country. What are the COVID-19 containment measures implemented by your country that have impacted commercial capture fisheries.
What are the restrictive COVID-19 measures implemented by your country that have had impacts on inland fisheries. What are the visible impacts of COVID-19 on your country's inland capture fisheries? What are the restrictive COVID-19 measures applied by your country that have had impacts on aquaculture.
What are the COVID-19 restrictions in place in your country that have affected the fish processing industry. What are the obvious impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the fish processing industry in your country? What COVID-19 restrictions your country has in place have affected domestic fisheries trade.
What is the apparent impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the domestic fisheries trade of your country. What are the COVID-19 containment measures implemented by your country that have impacted the international fisheries trade. What is the apparent impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the international fisheries trade of your country.
What is the apparent impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the status of fisheries resources and aquatic habitats of the country.
