Abstract
The idea of UN Sustainable Development Goals that no one is left behind is gaining higher importance, especially during the pandemic. Despite social sustainability is a complex topic due to the absence of a clear definition and its subjectivity. It relates with existing social problems, where the COVID-19 pandemic has also increased these problems in the food value chain: poor decent working conditions, lack of occupational health and safety at the workplace, forced labor, and intensive hours of work, among others. As half of the world’s workforce is involved in the food industry, the better understanding of its associated value chains in times of pandemic can contribute to improve social sustainable practices. With this aim the current paper identifies and analyzes current challenges and problems linked to social sustainability in times of COVID-19, identifying key actors and potential solutions and recommendations. The research adopts a qualitative and exploratory method applied through the Grounded Theory analysis combining desk research with inputs from a multi-stakeholder consultation of 35 fishery experts from all over the world. The paper provides new insights and shared experiences about social sustainability in the fish value chain to overcome the crisis times we are living in.
Highlights
The United Nations (UN) included the three pillars of sustainability in its activities and agenda, it was not officially reflected until 2017 through the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
Despite social sustainability is a complex topic due to the absence of a clear definition and its subjectivity. It relates with existing social problems, where the COVID-19 pandemic has increased these problems in the food value chain: poor decent working conditions, lack of occupational health and safety at the workplace, forced labor, and intensive hours of work, among others
As half of the world’s workforce is involved in the food industry, the better understanding of its associated value chains in times of pandemic can contribute to improve social sustainable practices. With this aim the current paper identifies and analyzes current challenges and problems linked to social sustainability in times of COVID-19, identifying key actors and potential solutions and recommendations
Summary
The United Nations (UN) included the three pillars of sustainability (environment, economy, and society) in its activities and agenda, it was not officially reflected until 2017 through the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). This paper analyses the effects of COVID-19 pandemic in the social sustainability of an important industry of the food value chain, as fisheries are, to better understand current problems and challenges It is not a minor issue as this activity, jointly with agriculture, employs half of the world’s labor force and it is considered by ILO (2020) as one of the three most hazardous industries along with the construction and mining sectors in terms of fatalities, injuries and work-related illhealth. Due to the complexity and novelty of social sustainability in the Fish Value Chain (FIVC), the research adopts a qualitative and exploratory method applied through the Grounded Theory (GT) analysis (Johnson, 2015; Minten, Tamru, Engida & Kuma, 2016) This approach helps at identifying core concepts, descriptions and relationships among different categories to gain a better understanding of social sustainability in order to identifying social problems, involved actors and proposing potential solutions. The paper ends with conclusions integrating the main theoretical and practical implications, and limitations and further directions of study
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
