Impact of COVID-19 on River and Fisheries: A Comprehensive Guide
Durgesh Kumar Verma
ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Regional Cantre, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh (211002), India.
Shravan Kumar Sharma *
ICAR-CIFT, Research Centre, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra (400 703), India.
Ridhdhisa R. Barad
Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries Science, Kamdhenu University, Veraval, Gujarat (362265), India.
Rajesh Jayaswal
ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Regional Cantre, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh (211002), India.
Pragati Inwati
College of Fisheries, Mangalore, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar, Karnataka (575002), India.
Ishwar Chandra
ICAR- Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Regional Centre Rohtak, Haryana (124411), India
Vivek Kumar
Faculty of Fisheries Science, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi, Kerala (682 506), India.
Akanksha Kurmi
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, College of Fishery Science, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh (482004), India.
Binal Rajeshbhai Khalasi
College of Fisheries, Mangalore, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar, Karnataka (575002), India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Impact of COVID-19 on Rivers and Fisheries: A Comprehensive Guide is a review article that discusses the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the aquaculture sector (including financial assistance, input sub/sides, social protection, support for access to new markets, and other measures) aquatic environments, including rivers and fisheries. The authors highlight a significant reduction in tourism, which has led to a decline in the Indian economy. They also discussed the impact of the pandemic on the aquaculture industry, which has been severely affected by the reduction in demand. This review article further discusses the changes in water quality parameters, including increased plastic waste, improved water quality index due to reduced human activities and reduced availability of nutrients due to decreased agricultural activities. The authors also discussed the impact of the pandemic on fish biodiversity, including population restoration due to reduced industrial pollution and changes in the reproductive state of fish. The article concludes by discussing the impact of the pandemic on the exploitation of fish and the aquaculture and fishing industries, including increased fishing effort and harvest with prolonged lockdowns and decreased fish production.
Keywords: COVID-19, economy, environment, fisheries, river, aquaculture, fish biodiversity