The COVID-19 Pandemic has reached the shores of almost every country in the world and will have, and may already be having, a significant public health and economic impact for many of the fishing and coastal communities where we work.
There have been reports of challenges in the global seafood trade and price drops for commodities such as lobster in the US as global markets and supply chains are disrupted. In Norway, the fishing industry has been declared a critical industry and stays open with social distancing mandated at places of work. In the Philippines there are also reports of fish supply chain disruptions. Major metropolitan areas, such as Manila, and other parts of the country are ordered to go on lock down or stay at home. Truck drivers are facing quarantine or prevented from moving seafood from outlying fish landing sites to big city markets. The US historic economic stimulus package just approved includes $300 million for fishing industry relief.
In many of the places around the world where we work in low income nations small scale fishing communities dominate the fishing sector and are significant contributors to employment and food security by providing a cheap and nutritious source of protein in the diet.
Measures have already been put in place to reduce the spread of the coronavirus and more may come as the number of infected people grows. While directives from governments have already banned public meetings and events to reduce possible exposure and mitigate its spread in many countries, there has been very little discussion or consideration in my view, concerning the daily congregation of large numbers of people in tight quarters at fish landing sites, in fish processing plants, and on fishing vessels.
In Ghana, there are approximately 300 fish landing sites along the coast and many more on Lake Volta employing directly or indirectly up to 10% of the population. Landing sites are locations where many people gather as fishing vessels come ashore with catch. Catch is unloaded from canoes and brought to shore in pans, sold to fish traders and processors, and then transported to fish processing locations throughout the community and shipped to markets around the country.
This daily event is central to life and economic activity in fishing communities where men, women, and children, young and old, are on the beach as the canoes come ashore. Scores of people congregate on the beach, and in larger landing sites and markets such as Elmina, Tema, and Secondi, as well as others, the numbers can be more than one hundred people. This creates a situation where large numbers of people are in close contact with one another, similar to a public meeting or event, and represents a significant risk of spread of the coronavirus. Many of the larger canoes that go fishing have crew sizes from 10 to 15 people where these men are working in close contact for hours or even days on a trip and another potential risk for spread of the virus.
The local fishing industry is responsible for providing a significant source of protein for Ghanaians. Fish provides approximately 60% of the animal protein in the local diet and the industry supports up to 2.2 million people either directly or indirectly. The catch of small pelagic fish provides the bulk of the locally caught fish and are known locally as the people’s fish. This catch is particularly important to poor people due to its low cost, and when smoked and dried, can be stored without refrigeration for a long period of time.
The Ghana case is not unlike many other places in the world and presents several issues of concern. If landing sites are shut down, that could help prevent the spread of the corona virus, however, it would also result in the disruption of a significant economic sector that generates income for many people and provides an inexpensive supply of protein for millions of citizens. Given these competing interests decision makers will need to consider a number of options.
University of Rhode Island