COVID-19 FOOTPRINTS AND POST PANDEMIC VISUALIZATION OF SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES: CASE STUDY OF CHILIKA LAGOON IN INDIA

Abstract

Small-scale fisheries and local communities reflect a way of life, and provide critical contributions to nutrition and food security, poverty alleviation and livelihoods, and local and national economies. Fisherfolk suffer various vulnerabilities due to several natural and anthropogenic drivers, which impact their livelihood and wellbeing. With the vulnerability posed by virus SARS-CoV-2’ or COVID-19 or coronavirus infection, coupled with social, economic, political, and environmental crises created havoc among small-scale fisheries (SSF) and local communities globally. The global catastrophe caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in severe challenges for the fisherfolk who were already suffering from various vulnerabilities and resulting impacts on their livelihood and wellbeing. This study largely followed a conceptual understanding of the multilevel drivers causing vulnerabilities and the pathway for the viability of fisherfolk. The main objectives that guided this research are: 1) to assess the existing vulnerabilities and the vulnerabilities triggered by COVID-19 pandemic, 2) the short-term coping measures taken by small-scale fisheries (SSF) individuals, government, and other institutions; 3) post pandemic plans and measures for the long-term viability. The research focuses on in-depth case study of SSF communities residing in Chilika Lagoon, India. The research used a mixed method approach, which gives a better understanding of ground reality from all means. A total of 50 household surveys were conducted for the data collection with semi-structured questions. Overall, this could be stated that new drivers increase the vulnerabilities in SSF by exacerbating the existing vulnerabilities. The results indicate that understanding existing and new vulnerabilities can provide insights into the targeted management of vulnerabilities by focusing on the short-term coping responses. The research opens a pathway for a thorough demographic research in the future. Research on coping measures for long-term viability of fisherfolk post pandemic would be insightful as well.