Fish value chain dynamics in coastal Kenya during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

At the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the Kenyan government put in place measures to curb the spread of the virus, which had knock-on effects on coastal small-scale fisheries (SSF).  To understand the impact of the pandemic on fish value chain dynamics, 314 questionnaire interviews were conducted in May 2020 in Kwale, Mombasa and Kilifi Counties covering fish shops, traders of dried and fresh fish, restaurants/hotels and fish mongers (mama karangas) using a randomized design. Covid-19 management protocols of masking, distancing and sanitizing were observed during data collection. The study found that the three coastal counties received supplies of fish from other coastal and inland counties through public transport that was affected by the management measures of the pandemic. According to 74 % of fish mongers, 96 % of fish traders and 81 % of fish shops supply was either reduced or severely reduced during the pandemic and sales declined. Fishers were not allowed to fish at night, and fish mongers lost 40 % of time available for business due to a curfew. Restaurant closures affected fish shops, traders and consumers. The stay-at-home-policy affected employment and reduced fish purchasing power. Losses in fish sales for fish mongers, fish traders and fish shops led to a total income loss estimated at USD 1,660/day, increasing the vulnerability of SSF actors that lacked other means of social security. The decrease in income at different value chain nodes highlighted a need for affirmative policies, such as compensation or tax relief to cushion SSF actors from future extreme events.