Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. Mollusk aquaculture and allied businesses: Quarter 4 Results

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In response to the coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19), a collaboration between The Ohio State University, Virginia Tech, and Engle-Stone Aquatic$, LLC was initiated to assess the impacts of the pandemic on U.S. aquaculture, aquaponics, and allied industry. Over the course of this study, the team was expanded to include researchers at Mississippi State University. The first survey for this project was launched in March of 2020, at the conclusion of the 1st quarter of the year. A follow up survey was launched at the conclusion of every quarter of 2020; with the Q4 survey launching in early 2021. Reports from previous quarters can be found online at the Virginia Seafood AREC website (https://www.arec.vaes.vt.edu/arec/virginia-seafood/research/Impacts_of_COVID19.html). In response to U.S. government emergency relief measures, the survey was revised in the 2nd quarter of 2020 to capture the effects of these newly implemented measures. In addition, questions were added to the survey to investigate the changes being implemented by farms and businesses in response to their ongoing challenges. This fact sheet summarizes the Q4 results of this study, covering the period from October 1st to December 31st, 2020. The impacts reported by respondents over the course of the study can be broadly summarized as the disruption of traditional marketing channels resulting in lost sales, challenges with labor, and challenges with production. Results from the Q4 survey indicate that aquaculture farms and businesses are still experiencing negative impacts from the pandemic.