Impact of the the COVID-19 pandemic on a queen conch (Aliger gigas) fishery in The Bahamas

Abstract

The onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in early 2020 led to a dramatic rise in unemployment and fears about food-security throughout the Caribbean region. Subsistence fisheries were one of the few activities permitted during emergency lockdown in The Bahamas, leading many to turn to the sea for food. Detailed monitoring of a small-scale subsistence fishery for queen conch was undertaken during the implementation of coronavirus emergency control measures over a period of twelve weeks. Weekly landings data showed a surge in fishing during the first three weeks where landings were 3.4 times higher than subsequent weeks. Overall 90% of the catch was below the minimum legal-size threshold and individual yield declined by 22% during the lockdown period. This study highlights the role of small-scale fisheries as a ‘natural insurance’ against socio-economic shocks and a source of resilience for small island communities at times of crisis. It also underscores the risks to food security and long-term sustainability of fishery stocks posed by overexploitation of natural resources.

Collapse and recovery of seafood wholesale prices in time of COVID‐19

“…The flow of fisheries products along globalized supply chains has been impeded by disruptions to international trade and transportation, including reduced freight availability, increased cost (Havice et al, 2020;Lennane, 2020) and backlogs (Havice et al, 2020). Coping strategies that emerged in the first months of the pandemic disruptions included increased food sharing, reliance on local networks, increased direct marketing (Bennett et al, 2020), diversifying supply chains (Love et al, 2021) and increased reliance on subsistence fisheries (Higgs, 2021). Surveys conducted early in the pandemic have confirmed some of the anticipated impacts discussed above.…”

Anthropause shows differential influence of tourism and a no‐take reserve on the abundance and size of two fished species

“…The Bahamas implemented commercial fishing restrictions intended to mitigate this threat (CRFM, 2020). However, increased illegal pressures on natural resources, such as nearshore predominately juvenile queen conch, were documented in The Bahamas (Higgs, 2021). Elsewhere, legal and illegal harvest increased.…”

COVID-19 experiences of small-scale fishing households: The case of Lake Victoria, Kenya

“…At fewer sites, increases in fishing have also been documented. Subsistence fishing in the Bahamas rose sharply in a described "panic fishing" period that began when the island closed to visitors and dissipated relatively soon thereafter (Higgs, 2021). In a survey across South Pacific Island nations, villages that experienced in-migration were more likely to report increased fishing pressure and in some nations (e.g., Tonga, Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea) a majority of respondents reported increased fishing pressure, though there was not a clear regional trend (Ferguson et al, 2022).…”