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Early effects of COVID-19 on US fisheries and seafood consumption
Citation
White, ER and Froehlich, HE and Gephart, JA and Cottrell, RS and Branch, TA and Bejarano, RA and Baum, JK, Early effects of COVID-19 on US fisheries and seafood consumption, Fish and Fisheries, 22 pp. 232-239. ISSN 1467-2960 (2020) [Refereed Article]
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Abstract
The US seafood sector is susceptible to shocks, both because of the seasonal nature
of many of its domestic fisheries and its global position as a top importer and exporter
of seafood. However, many data sets that could inform science and policy during an
emerging event do not exist or are only released months or years later. Here, we synthesize
multiple data sources from across the seafood supply chain, including unconventional
real-time data sets, to show the relative initial responses and indicators of
recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic. We synthesized news articles from January
to September 2020 that reported effects of COVID-19 on the US seafood sector, including
processor closures, shortened fishing seasons and loss of revenue. Concerning
production and distribution, we assessed past and present landings and trade data and
found substantial declines in fresh seafood catches (−40%), imports (−37%) and exports
(−43%) relative to the previous year, while frozen seafood products were generally less
affected. Google search trends and seafood market foot traffic data suggest consumer
demand for seafood from restaurants dropped by upwards of 70% during lockdowns,
with recovery varying by state. However, these declines were partially offset by an
increase (270%) in delivery and takeout service searches. Our synthesis of open-access
data sets and media reports shows widespread, but heterogeneous, ramifications of
COVID-19 across the seafood sector, implying that policymakers should focus support
on states and sub-sectors most affected by the pandemic: fishery-dependent communities,
processors, and fisheries and aquaculture that focus on fresh products.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | seafood, COVID-19, fisheries, aquaculture, fisheries, pulse disturbance, shocks |
| Research Division: | Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences |
| Research Group: | Fisheries sciences |
| Research Field: | Fisheries sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Objective Division: | Animal Production and Animal Primary Products |
| Objective Group: | Fisheries - aquaculture |
| Objective Field: | Fisheries - aquaculture not elsewhere classified |
| UTAS Author: | Cottrell, RS (Dr Richard Cottrell) |
| ID Code: | 150447 |
| Year Published: | 2020 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 42 |
| Deposited By: | Ecology and Biodiversity |
| Deposited On: | 2022-06-15 |
| Last Modified: | 2022-06-15 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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