Market Reforms of Marine Fisheries During COVID-19 in Kerala: Implications for Sustainable Management

Abstract

Marine capture fishery in India is facing issues of unsustainability in terms of declining catch per unit effort and over-capitalization. Attempts to address the issue largely hovered around technology solu tions and regulations on fishing activities. The role of stakeholder participation and market forces most prominently reflected by the income of the stake holders are conspicuous by its absence. In this background, the study inquired the hypothesis that reforms in fish marketing regulations can serve a useful role in ensuring sustainable fishing. The hypothesis is tested by using field-level data on market intervention in marine fisheries by the Government of Kerala, India during the COVID-19, and the response of fishers towards it. The study points towards favourable attitude of fishers, par ticularly the traditional fishers, towards the new system. The results highlight that simultaneous reforms in fishing regulations and markets have generated income stream with less variability while reducing fishing pressure.