Financial Impacts of the COVID-19 on Fisheries Supply Chain Across the Southern Coast of Bangladesh
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Bangladesh is fortunate to have an abundance of productive interior, coastal, and marine water resources, and the nation's fishery resources are one of the cornerstones of its economic system. This research intended to assess the financial impacts of the COVID-19 problem on Bangladesh's southern coast's fishing industry and to examine the resilience factors that stakeholders believed would help them withstand pandemic-related risks. Additionally, the study aimed to investigate the resilience characteristics stakeholders demonstrated in coping with the risks associated with the pandemic. Interviews with experts in the fisheries sector revealed that fishers and other supply chain actors in the research locations encountered several challenges due to COVID-19. A survey was conducted with 319 professionals employed in the fisheries sector, including fish traders (Aratdar), wholesalers, fish retailers, sellers, fish farmers, fishing laborers, ice vendors, transport workers, fishers and consumers in the study areas. The survey revealed that fishers and other supply chain actors in the study areas faced several challenges due to COVID-19. The epidemic, through the modification of fish supply and demand, fish distribution, labour, and production, exposed pre-existing weaknesses and limited the ability to recover, thereby endangering the welfare of small-scale fishing households. Furthermore, fish farmers encountered a lack of resources and technical assistance, along with limitations, shipping difficulties and low pricing. The COVID-19 pandemic made it more challenging for subsistence farmers to sell their catch, necessitating the reconstruction of fish value chains. This includes links between farmers and markets, market infrastructure, cold storage facilities, transportation systems, and increased market information flow. The authors recommend comprehensive and extensive recovery plans to address the COVID-19 issue. These plans could meet both immediate requirements and long-term goals for the sustainable revival for the fishing sector.
Authors: Prabal Barua, Sadika Sultana Chowdhury
Institution: Premier University
Language: English
Topic: COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts
Subfield: Economics and Econometrics
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W4409753060