COVID-19对中国水产养殖影响的初步调查——以养殖罗非鱼和斑点叉尾鱼为例（英）-60页_3mb

Summary of the Preliminary Investigation on the Impact of COVID-19 on Aquaculture in China: A Case Study on Farmed Tilapia and Channel Catfish Sector

Core Content

This document presents a preliminary investigation on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the aquaculture sector in China, with a focus on farmed tilapia in Guangdong Province and farmed channel catfish in Hubei Province. The study was conducted by the Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre (FFRC) of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The goal was to understand the pandemic's effects on the aquaculture value chain and to recommend strategies for resilience and recovery.

Main Findings

1. Sectoral Impact

• Hubei Province's channel catfish sector was more severely impacted than Guangdong Province's tilapia sector.
• Grow-out farmers and fish traders were the most affected stakeholders, while feed companies and processors experienced less impact.
• International trade of both species was more affected than domestic sales.

2. Key Impacts on the Value Chain

• Production Challenges:
  • Holding of harvestable fish stock in ponds due to marketing difficulties led to weight loss and disrupted farming cycles.
  • Poor fish growth was observed due to management interruptions (e.g., irregular feeding).
• Supply Chain Disruptions:
  • Supply cut-offs to fish traders.
  • Significant reduction in international orders and sales.
• Financial Strains:
  • Increased operational costs.
  • Reduced or delayed revenue.
  • 30-40% of surveyed farmers faced financial hardships.
• Livelihood Impact:
  • Family income significantly reduced due to lower payments and business revenue.
  • Women were particularly affected due to school closures, increasing their burden in childcare and education.

3. Mitigation Measures

• Prolonging production cycles.
• Reducing input use, such as feed.
• Marketing through e-commerce.
• Government support:
  • Green passage for food and production inputs.
  • Financial incentives for processing and trade companies.
  • Financial assistance to households in need.

4. Sectoral Performance Forecast

• Yield reduction: About 20% for both tilapia and channel catfish.
• Production cost increase: More than 10%.
• Profit reduction: 20-25% lower than 2019.
• Sales reduction: 20-30% lower than 2019.
• Optimistic outlook: Experts from the national tilapia and channel catfish industrial chain program anticipate a significant increase in culture areas in the second half of 2020 to offset the pandemic's effects.

Key Recommendations

1. Government Strategies and Measures

• Strengthen disaster early-warning systems.
• Enhance local risk mitigation capabilities.
• Scale up pilot aquaculture insurance schemes.
• Develop dedicated disaster assistance mechanisms.

2. Sectoral Improvements

• Support modern trade and marketing methods.
• Promote infrastructure development.
• Encourage innovation and transformative changes in aquaculture technology and production systems.
• Adopt e-commerce and remote management technologies.
• Improve the organization of farmers to support collective efforts in managing risks.

3. Social Security and Protection

• Fully include farmers in local social security systems.
• Ensure better access to social protection for vulnerable groups, particularly women in the aquaculture sector.

Methodology

The investigation used a mixed-method approach, including:

• Questionnaire surveys targeting five key links in the value chain: grow-out farmers, seed producers, processors, traders, and feed manufacturers.
• Literature review to understand the sector's development and the national and global context of the pandemic.
• Expert consultation to validate findings and provide sector-level projections.
• Case study analysis on mitigation measures in the two provinces.

The field survey was conducted by local aquaculture service agencies from July to August 2020, with technical support from the FFRC team.

Conclusion

The study highlights the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the aquaculture value chain in China, particularly in Hubei and Guangdong provinces. It underscores the need for resilient strategies and innovative measures to mitigate future risks. The government's role in supporting the sector through financial incentives, logistical facilitation, and social protection is emphasized as crucial for recovery and long-term stability. The findings provide a valuable reference for FAO and its Members in developing fact-based strategies to address the challenges posed by the pandemic and similar crises.