An assessment of socioeconomic impacts due to COVID-19 on coastal fisheries in Tonga

ABSTRACT

This article presents the main findings and recommendations of a socioeconomic assessment of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Tonga's coastal fisheries sector which was conducted by means of a national survey targeting households that benefit from subsistence and artisanal fishing and focus group discussions targeting registered commercial small-scale fishers. The assessment aimed to (1) better understand the effects of COVID-19 on coastal small-scale fishers and fishing households;(2) examine how they have coped and recovered from the effects of COVID-19;and (3) identify the types of support that they would find helpful to cope with and recover from the effects of COVID-19, as well as future crises.