Abstract
This study investigated the impacts of COVID-19 on the aquaculture sector in South Africa. The study was conducted on the West Coast of the Western Cape, South Africa. A multiple-case study approach was followed, focusing on the marine mussel farming sub-sector in Saldanha Bay. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the owners or managers of nine mussel farming enterprises, and with nine representatives of role players with responsibility or experience in aquaculture, agriculture, or enterprise development. The results of the study focussed on the impacts of COVID-19 on the aquaculture sector and role player organizations; COVID-19 support; initiatives for preparation, survival, and rebuilding; factors promoting resilience, survival, and rebuilding; and requirements to survive and rebuild the sector. The main impact on the aquaculture sector was the closure of markets, which led to cascading impacts on all aspects of the value chain. Role players were affected through impacts on programmes, projects, and staff. Various COVID-19 relief schemes were made available however these could not address all the needs of the sector. Enterprises prepare for the pandemic and the future through long term planning. The main factors contributing to resilience were subsidisation from shareholders, having reserve funds and multiple streams of revenue. The most critical requirements to survive and rebuild the sector was financial support and the opening of markets. The study recommends follow up assessments of the aquaculture industry to fully understand and quantify the effects of the prolonged pandemic and provide tailor-made solutions for each sub-sector to stabilise, revive and grow the aquaculture sector in the medium to long term. Aquaculture enterprises that have closed or are at risk of closure should be prioritised first before any investment in new ventures is considered. In addition, the development of an aquaculture industry-based Business Continuity Strategy and the Ocean Economy Master plan should be prioritised to assist enterprises until the pandemic is over, to prepare for normalisation of operations thereafter, and to prepare the sector and individual enterprises to be more resilient in case of future global crises and disasters.
Highlights
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
The main purpose of this paper was to understand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on aquaculture enterprises in South Africa after April 2020, what is needed to recover from these impacts and how this understanding could be incorporated into a model for the development of self-sustainable aquaculture enterprises in South Africa
To understand the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic on aquaculture enterprises in South Africa, and what is needed to recover from these impacts, the researcher solicited opinions and insights from the enterprise case study and role player respondents about the effects of COVID-19 on their businesses or organisations; COVID-19 support provided or received; initiatives to prepare, survive and rebuild; factors promoting resilience, survival and rebuilding; and requirements to survive and rebuild businesses
Summary
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease was identified for the first time in China in December 2019 and thereafter spread rapidly throughout the world. 19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020. Due to the absence of a vaccine at the time and the potential of the virus to cause massive mortalities, the World Health Organisation recommended a Global Strategy for the disease, which included physical distancing and restrictions on travel (WHO, 2020). Countries responded with measures aligned to this Strategy, which caused a drastic reduction in travel, freight movement and individual freedom of movement, and had a devastating effect on economies worldwide. The South African government responded by declaring the State of Disaster on 15
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