How COVID-19 changed the dynamics of a fishery

Northern Ireland went into COVID-19 enforced lockdown with the rest of the UK in March 2020. A stay-at-home order banned “non-essential” travel and contact with others, and closing schools and businesses. Such closures also impacted commercial fishing activities, including the Lough Neagh eel fishery. The eel fishery in Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland is the largest in Europe with an annual mean catch of around 330 t, valued at ∼£3 M. The effect of the Northern Ireland lockdown was the reduction of the Neagh fleet by 60% and delay to the start of the yellow eel fishing season by 2 months. The pandemic reduced the market demand for Lough Neagh yellow eel from ∼280,00 kg yr⁻¹ to 100,000 kg yr⁻¹. The objective of the study was to assess the impact of the regulations on silver eel output and the socio-economic effects on fishers and the fishery. The main impact of the market disruption was for an increase in silver eel escapement of about 15% and for those fishers who remained in the fishery, at least in the short term, a continuing livelihood. In contrast, there were direct socio-economic consequences; the fishery had to reduce in size with associated cultural and heritage loss. Upon the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions the former fleet size did not and has not returned highlighting the wide ranging socio-economic impacts from the pandemic. As of November 2023, the market demand for eel across Europe remains deflated.