Incorporating equity in policy analysis: The case of the Nova Scotian lobster fishery and COVID-19

COVID-19 constituted an acute shock—a sudden, exogenous event that caused significant disruptions to the fisheries sector. The urgency of the pandemic required rapid government responses, making it difficult to fully consider the equity implications of the policies implemented. We argue that it is essential for governments to enhance their preparedness against acute shocks by centering equity in their policy decisions. Based on the case of the Nova Scotian lobster fishery and COVID-19, this short communication presents an equity-oriented policy analysis of the economic vulnerability of Nova Scotian lobster fishers to acute shocks. We analyze potential policy options the Government of Nova Scotia could have implemented during the pandemic to mitigate these vulnerabilities. We find trade-offs between the effectiveness and equity of policy options. Additionally, we find that the policy options fare differently against different equity dimensions, suggesting the need for a multi-dimensional approach to assessing equity. Most importantly, we demonstrate how equity can be positioned as a central criterion in policy analysis, supporting the development of resilient fisheries that are better able to withstand acute shocks.