Archives of Current Research International

The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions to fisheries-based livelihoods, particularly along small-scale fish farmers in Manipur. This study assesses coping behaviour using a perception-based Coping Strategy Index (CSI) constructed from frequency and severity of responses. Based on primary data from 96 households, the mean CSI (38.64) indicates moderate but heterogeneous coping intensity. High-severity strategies such as migration and asset liquidation were less frequent, whereas consumption-smoothing strategies—especially child labour, spending of savings, and reduced input use—were widely adopted and contributed most to overall coping intensity. Kruskal–Wallis analysis revealed that income diversification (p = 0.011) and income level (p = 0.048) significantly influenced coping behaviour, while farm size, age, and education were not statistically significant. The findings highlight that economic flexibility, rather than structural characteristics, plays a critical role in determining resilience. The study underscores the need for targeted policy interventions focusing on income diversification, financial access, and social protection to reduce vulnerability during systemic shocks.