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Physical distancing and risk of COVID-19 in small-scale fisheries: a remote sensing assessment in coastal Ghana.
Okyere, Isaac; Chuku, Ernest O; Ekumah, Bernard; Angnuureng, Donatus B; Boakye-Appiah, Justice K; Mills, David J; Babanawo, Raymond; Asare, Noble K; Aheto, Denis W; Crawford, Brian.
  • Okyere I; Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana. iokyere@ucc.edu.gh.
  • Chuku EO; Centre for Coastal Management (Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience - ACECoR), University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana. iokyere@ucc.edu.gh.
  • Ekumah B; Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
  • Angnuureng DB; Centre for Coastal Management (Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience - ACECoR), University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
  • Boakye-Appiah JK; Department of Environmental Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
  • Mills DJ; Centre for Coastal Management (Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience - ACECoR), University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
  • Babanawo R; Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's University of London/Hospital, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK.
  • Asare NK; WorldFish, Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
  • Aheto DW; ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
  • Crawford B; Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI, USA.
Sci Rep ; 10(1): 22407, 2020 12 29.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-997949
ABSTRACT
The novel coronavirus is predicted to have dire implications on global food systems including fisheries value chains due to restrictions imposed on human movements in many countries. In Ghana, food production, both agriculture and fisheries, is exempted from restrictions as an essential service. The enforcement of COVID-19 prevention protocols, particularly social distancing, has been widely reported in Ghana's agricultural markets whereas casual observations and media reports on fish landing sites suggest no such enforcements are in place. This study aimed to provide sound scientific evidence as a basis for informed policy direction and intervention for the artisanal fishing sector in these challenging times. We employed an unmanned aerial vehicle in assessing the risk of artisanal fishers to the pandemic using physical distancing as a proxy. From analysis of cumulative distribution function (G-function) of the nearest-neighbour distances, this study underscored crowding at all surveyed fish landing beaches, and identified potential "hotspots" for disease transmission. Aerial measurements taken at times of peak landing beach activity indicated that the highest proportion of people, representing 56%, 48%, 39% and 78% in Elmina, Winneba, Apam and Mumford respectively, were located at distances of less than one metre from their nearest neighbour. Risk of crowding was independent of the population at the landing beaches, suggesting that all categories of fish landing sites along the coast would require equal urgency and measured attention towards preventing and mitigating the spread of the disease.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Fisheries / Physical Distancing / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: English Journal: Sci Rep Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S41598-020-79898-4

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Fisheries / Physical Distancing / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: English Journal: Sci Rep Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S41598-020-79898-4