Impacts of COVID-19 on the Fish Market in Dinajpur District of Bangladesh

Abstract

This study interviewed 50 fish farmers and 50 retailers from Dinajpur district, Bangladesh to investigate the impacts of COVID-19 on the local fish market from a period of January to June 2023. The results showed that the fish culture cost including labor cost, feed cost and pharmaceutical cost increased significantly after COVID-19. Labor costs increased by 17-39%, feed costs by 41 to 45% and pharmaceutical costs by 30-31%. The prices of catfishes showed the highest change equal to BDT 288/kg whereas slightly reduced prices for pangas (BDT 68.6/kg), carps (BDT 101.72/kg) and tilapia (BDT 71.15/kg) were recorded. Retailers have increased the selling price (27-28%) of the pangas, tilapia, carps and other fish species due to higher purchasing prices (32-40%) resulting in a squeeze on profit. The profit for pangas decreased to 11% post-COVID-19 from 22%, for tilapia from 21% to 11%, for carp profit decreased from 6% to 3% and for catfishes from 9% to 5% post-COVID-19. This study provides helpful information to minimize the unstable condition of fish markets and government and non-government organizations should intervene to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 with proper policy.