The Impacts of COVID-19 on Fisheries and Seafood: a Review

Corona virus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has heavily affected the international fisheries trade by restrictions of global markets, transportation, personnel movements, shortages of labors and etc. COVID-19 also affected local fisheries supply chains by the closure of restaurants, hotels, universities/schools and work places. The COVID-19 sanitary measures such as physical distancing and losing or shortening the fishing season has also affected fishing related activities. Moreover, the closures of some processing sectors might result in a significant negative impact on workers of these industries. COVID-19 also affected the aquaculture by restrictions of preparing of seeds, feeds, drugs and etc. Moreover, the unsold produce can result in an increase of live animal stocks and their higher costs for feeding and higher risk of mortality. Containment measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have also caused a delay in fisheries and seafood processing researches. Also, COVID-19 put more pressure on issues of accessing of fisheries personnels to health services. On the other hand, the reduced fish capture may have positive effects on wild fish stocks in the short term. Moreover, in some countries the demand for canned and other preserved seafood products especially at the beginning of the pandemic and also the retail sales have increased. Yet, no evidences about the ability of coronavirus to infect aquatic animals and its transmission the virus to human by this route are available, however, the use of robust hygiene practices to prevent the contamination of fisheries products and their packaging by people who are infected with / carrier of COVID-19 from farm to table are necessary. The government should use the measures to control the pandemic with keeping the supply chain open to avoid reducing foreign incomes and threatening food security.

کلیدواژه ها:

COVID-19 ، Fishery ، Aquaculture ، Seafood