Lake Malawi is a global biodiversity hotspot with exceptional fish diversity. While fisheries and their associated value chains are a source of food security and livelihoods for the lakeshore community, population growth and increased commercialization of the fisheries have resulted in the depletion of high value target species such as Chambo (Oreochromis Nyasalapia spp.). In southern Lake Malawi for example, between 5000 and 9000 tons of Chambo were landed by artisanal and industrial fisheries until the fishery crashed between 1992 and 1999 whereafter landings decreased to below 2000 tons per year. As the larger higher value fish species were depleted the fishery rapidly switched to smaller, less valuable species. Although this switch initially sustained catches, these smaller species were also eventually depleted forcing fishers to increasingly operate further offshore. Assessments of catch and effort data demonstrate that fishing effort had to increase dramatically to maintain yields and all fisheries in the lake now show symptoms of overfishing which include decreased species diversity and low catch rates. As a result of the social consequences of overfishing, a number of co- management projects were initiated with donor support. Here, researchers describe the evolution of fisheries in Lake Malawi, describe the responses by the small-scale fishery to the serial depletion of resources, and assess the efficacy of management interventions to highlight some of the realities of trying to manage fisheries in this developing country context.
Resource Type
Geography