Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on small-scale fishers (SSF) engaged in floodplain wetland fisheries: evidences from three states in India

• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16074-9
• Publication Date: 2021-09-06T19:02:55Z
• Authors: Basanta Kumar Das; Aparna Roy; Sukanya Som; Ganesh Chandra; Suman Kumari; Uttam Kumar Sarkar; Birendra Kumar Bh...; Archan Kanti Das; Arun Pandit
• Keywords: Overexploitation

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented human health crisis in recent global history with rippling social and economic effects. outbreak India resulted emergency lockdown the country for more than 2 months, that caused decline catch, demand, supply of fish. It severely altered life livelihoods floodplain wetland fishers. These wetlands play a key role socio-economic development stakeholders, by generating employment livelihood studied regions. In present study, systematic assessment was conducted to identify impact on fisheries aim evaluate fishing, production, income, food access. We rapid telephonic survey covering176 fishers 3 states document early impacts policy responses fisher households. majority report negative sales, incomes. Fishers three Indian Bihar, West Bengal, Assam lost 20, 25, 9 fishing days, respectively. About 70, 60, 55 % admitted made them partially jobless. Fish harvest during March May 32, 44, 20 lower previous years Assam. income INR 10000/-, 12500/-, 4500/- due lockdown. analysis also showed 25% each responded moderate severe psychological anxiety symptoms COVID-19. Demand gap led 20-40 increase farm gate price fishes at level. study is first its kind systematically assess discusses several magnitudes livelihood, access suggests strategies decision support.