ABSTRACT
We carried out a preliminary investigation to study the impact of COVID‐19 on aquaculture in China and identify the strategies and measures that have been taken by the Chinese Government. The investigation involved questionnaire surveys designed for all stakeholders along the industrial chain, including grow‐out farmers, seed producers, fish processors, fish traders, and feed companies engaged in the catfish sector in Hubei Province and the tilapia sector in Guangdong Province during the strict period of control and after these control measures were lifted. We also attempted to summarize the government interventions and measures taken by different stakeholders along the value chain to minimize the damage caused by COVID‐19 and support the recovery of different sectors in the aquaculture industry. We found that due to delayed harvesting, fish stocks were held‐up in ponds and normal farming was interrupted. Farmers and traders were more severely impacted by the pandemic than other sectors. Furthermore, a series of strategies and measures are recommended to cope with the pandemic and other similar risks in the future. We expect that this study will provide good evidence for international societies to support the aquaculture industry in minimizing the impact of the pandemic and the rapid recovery of the industry in the post‐pandemic period.
ABSTRACT
In order to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the entire aquaculture value chain in China and what strategy and measures have been taken to support the stakeholders to address the impact of the pandemic on the sector, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) supported the Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre (FFRC) in carrying out a preliminary investigation. The investigation focused on channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) farming in Hubei Province and tilapia farming (Oreochromis spp.) in Guangdong Province. The results indicated a significant difference in the impact of the pandemic on different stakeholders in the two subsectors. The investigation also identified the most significant specific impact of the pandemic on production and operation at different value chain links. The investigation also covered the impact of the pandemic on the livelihood of households engaged in the value chain, which significantly reduced income due to lower payment and business revenue. As an important output of the study, a set of strategies and measures were recommended for supporting the aquaculture sector and stakeholders in the value chain to cope with the pandemic and other similar risks in the future.
ABSTRACT
We carried out a preliminary investigation to study the impact of COVID-19 on aquaculture in China and identify the strategies and measures that have been taken by the Chinese Government. The investigation involved questionnaire surveys designed for all stakeholders along the industrial chain, including grow-out farmers, seed producers, fish processors, fish traders, and feed companies engaged in the catfish sector in Hubei Province and the tilapia sector in Guangdong Province during the strict period of control and after these control measures were lifted. We also attempted to summarize the government interventions and measures taken by different stakeholders along the value chain to minimize the damage caused by COVID-19 and support the recovery of different sectors in the aquaculture industry. We found that due to delayed harvesting, fish stocks were held-up in ponds and normal farming was interrupted. Farmers and traders were more severely impacted by the pandemic than other sectors. Furthermore, a series of strategies and measures are recommended to cope with the pandemic and other similar risks in the future. We expect that this study will provide good evidence for international societies to support the aquaculture industry in minimizing the impact of the pandemic and the rapid recovery of the industry in the post-pandemic period.