Impact of COVID‐19 on fish consumption and nutrition intake—An empirical study

• Published in: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
• Main Authors: Sandip Mitra, Md. Masudul Haque Prodhan, Most. Nilufa Khatun, Md Takibur Rahman, Md. Akhtaruzzaman Khan
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2023
• Subjects: Bangladesh; COVID‐19; fish consumption; nutrition intake; Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling; SH1-691; Attu
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12952; https://doaj.org/article/0509e98dd04044caa1e35266b0a7034e

Abstract This study investigates the effects of COVID‐19 on fish consumption and nutrition intake based on a random survey of 247 fish consumers in Bangladesh. The Propensity Score Matching technique is used to compare fish consumption and fish‐sourced nutrition intake between two groups of consumers before and during COVID‐19. The result shows that 38% overall reduction in fish consumption for the low‐income group compared to lower‐middle, upper‐middle‐ and high‐income groups. Furthermore, per capita consumption of culture and capture fish species decreased significantly for low‐income, lower‐middle‐income, and upper‐middle‐income groups of consumers. It indicates that nutrition and mineral intake have reduced sharply as well Higher energy and K reduction are observed for Pangasius hypophthalmus among different culture fish species while energy and Ca reduction were higher for Wallago attu and Mystus vittatus respectively. Therefore, the government might place a greater emphasis on excluding the food supply chain from lockdown restrictions during a COVID‐19‐like pandemic.