COVID-19
COVID-19 needs no introduction. The pandemic sent the world into a spiral, affecting industries and businesses large and small on an unprecedented level. The marine outdoor industry consisting of fishing, diving, snorkeling and traveling was not exempt from its reach, and it was affected on all levels, from cancelled airline travel to shuttered hotel accommodations to restaurants closings, putting the marine tourism industry into a tailspin. While all seemed negative, and most of it was, there was some positive light shone on the marine industry as well — sort of a pearl among the oysters that clamped down around us.
PHOTOS BY ADOGSLIFEPHOTO / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY Let’s start with the good. Since lockdown quarantines were in effect for most coastal states March through May, there was no saltwater fishing or diving pressure; as a result, fish stocks seemed to have rebounded. As of now, there is no real time scientific data to support this, but dockside talk from striped bass anglers in New Jersey to redfish anglers in Florida all seemed to trend toward positive, if not reporting impressive fishing from June onward. Vacationing was also out of the question, and while bad for business, coral reefs had less diving and boating pressure, equating to fewer pollutants and less disturbance in the waters. Waters that had been tainted for decades appeared to be clearing up. It also seems that contiguous U.S. lodges fared better than international destinations; United
States citizens could navigate state-by-state laws regarding quarantine parameters instead of more dire foreign constraints, allowing some U.S. coastal businesses to thrive. Boat companies have seen unprecedented sales as more people are seeing the benefit of convenient access to nature near their homes. Of course there’s the resounding bad — death tolls and cases worldwide were staggering. When it comes to business in the marine tourism industry, COVID threw a wet blanket on a hot industry; some found ways to succeed, others didn’t. That leads me to the ugly. Many businesses either weren’t “qualified” for government subsidies or simply didn’t have enough equity at stake to weather the COVID repercussions. That meant a lot of businesses in the travel industry had to shut their doors permanently. Tourism industry workers have had to look for new jobs in construction, finance, etc. GHOF.org | 55
