Efeitos da pandemia de COVID-19 no acesso a serviços ecossistêmicos e na manutenção da segurança alimentar em uma comunidade costeira do litoral oeste do Ceará

Abstract

Since the end of 2019, the world faced uncertainties about the emergence of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and its socioeconomic consequences. During the pandemic, feed habits have changed due to social distancing policies and changes in food supply and price. Some Brazilian families had problems in ensuring healthy food and promoting food security in their homes, particularly populations that depend directly and indirectly on ecosystem resources, interactions and processes. Artisanal fishing guarantees quality protein consumption, and inserts community in local production chains. However, the effects of social distancing policies to reduce the contagion of COVID-19 in the way of life of fishing communities, in relation to income generation and obtaining food through extractive means, are still uncertain. Thus, we analyzed by means of semi-structured interviews the effects of social distancing on the well-being of fishing communities in the municipality of Trairi (west coast of the State of Ceará). The acquisition of fishing resources in local ecosystems (rivers, lagoons, estuary and adjacent sea) was not altered by isolation policies, while catches were within the averages normally obtained for consumption in periods prior to the pandemics. Surplus catches intended exclusively for market supply were reduced due to the lack of tourism. However, the maintenance of the local economy, government financial aid, and increased direct search for fishermen by consumers and traders from nearby locations compensated the fisheries financial income. We discussed that communities that exploit a greater ecosystem diversity to obtain their resources suffered less food and financial impact by COVID-19 than those more dependent on tourism. It is necessary to continue investigating how these communities remain resistant and resilient in relation to their fishing vocations, in view of the principles highlighted in the Sustainable Development Goals, especially in the framework of the Decade of Oceanic Science (2021- 2030) promoted by the United Nations. And to achieve these objectives, artisanal fishing stands out as one of the main practices that help in the eradication of poverty, maintenance of food security, health promotion and well-being, ensuring consumption and sustainable means of production.