Reviewing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the seafood sector shows there were some innovative responses by our seafood community, and lessons to improve preparedness for future disruptions.
Despite the tumult of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia’s fishing and aquaculture sectors escaped without the need for any significant structural changes, thanks largely to state and federal government support and advocacy from peak bodies during the event.
This is among the key findings of a 2025 FRDC-funded report that investigated the impacts of the pandemic and lessons learnt.
Led by Dr Emily Ogier at the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies the report uncovered some surprising findings while pointing to ways the sector can better prepare for future shocks or disruptions.
Positive findings
The most overwhelmingly positive finding was how much Australian consumers wanted to support and buy local seafood says Emily.
“Australian consumers have a greater appreciation of local seafood supply chains since the pandemic.”
Emily also noted that the pandemic increased cooperation between the seafood industry and state and national agencies to remove some regulatory barriers and develop support packages allowing the sector to continue operating.
Peak bodies for the fisheries and aquacultural sectors came to the fore, playing “a really crucial role in advocacy,” says Emily. They communicated effectively with consumers, vendors and operators to protect their activities.
Accelerated industry evolution
The pandemic accelerated the adoption of technologies slowly introduced over the previous decade.
Emily explained that industry had to quickly implement new technologies at scale. This applied across agencies, fishing companies, firms, and fishers. We all gained more skills using these digital platforms.”
Businesses adapted across business-to-business sales, direct sales, online sales of seafood, online communication, e-monitoring and more flexible working arrangements for staff.
Negative impacts
The pandemic caused many negative impacts either directly or indirectly.
“Available markets struggled to handle the volumes of some products that had previously been exported, such as rock lobsters, and prices fell, and jobs were lost,” says Emily.
“Many export fisheries also lost their prominence in their high-value markets. While those market channels have returned, other supply countries have established themselves in the meantime,” she added.
Preparing for future shocks
To prepare for future shocks, the report recommends maintaining efficient communications with governments and regulators to champion the conditions fishing and aquaculture need to sustain their production activities, supply chains and markets through large disruptions.
“We've got to be ready to speak to all sorts of different regulatory agencies and explain what fishing and aquaculture need to be able to maintain their minimum viable operating conditions,” says Emily.
Keeping digital technologies up to date will also allow for easier transitions during such unprecedented times.
At the local level and for micro-scale fishing businesses, the ability to switch quickly to an alternative market can be beneficial – keeping alternative markets in mind. And while establishing financial buffers can be difficult, having such resources to invest in alternative supply chains or markets is an important way to improve resilience.
Emily also points to the use of early warning indicators to understand changes in consumer sentiment in target markets during times of disruption, allowing businesses to quickly adjust production in response.
Ultimately, the report highlights the importance of constant communication between industries and government networks to create a shared understanding of the value and importance of the seafood industry and maintaining a commitment to keeping a local seafood sector alive and strong.
Related FRDC projects
2021-042: Impacts of COVID19 on the Australian Seafood Industry: Extending the assessment to prepare for uncertain futures
2016-128: Impacts of COVID-19 on the Australian Seafood Industry: January -June 2020
