Between a rock and a hard place: The need for and challenges to implementation of Rights Based Fisheries Management in small-scale fisheries of southern Lake Malawi

Abstract

There has been a decline in commercially valuable fish species, especially the Chambo (Oreochromis spp), in southern Lake Malawi. Although there might be lack of reliable and scientifically backed evidence, most experts and experienced fishers concur that productivity of most fish stocks in the area is much below par compared to their productivity about two to three decades ago. This leads to the hypotheses that the fish stocks are generally over-exploited. This trend will continue or their productivity will remain at these depressed levels unless appropriate measures are taken. This article argues that Rights Based Management (RBM) could hold the best hope for moving towards sustainable fisheries management in the southern Lake Malawi (Southeast and Southwest Arms) area while recognizing the need for a broad human rights approach for fishing communities. Even then, the implementation of the RBM approach will not be easy given the historical developmental open access management approach and general unorganized characteristics of the small-scale fisheries sector. Of note is that comanagement was introduced in area in the early millennium as part of attempts to strengthen user fishing rights, local accountability and stewardship -with mixed results.

Stochastic modelling of Lake Malawi Engraulicypris sardella (Gunther, 1868) catch fluctuation

“…It has been noted that low efficiency to harvest the field was reported from 1993 and lasted for11 years. As observed by Hara and Njaya (2016), the positive trend of E.sardella total landings among other reasons could be attributed to the fact that many fishers are currently targeting usipa much more than utaka because of the far much better catches of the former compared to the latter for similar effort.…”

“…On the other hand, it has also been noted that Lake Malawi continues experiencing serious depletion of most valuable fish species. Presently, both commercial and artisanal fishery have been forced to target less valuable fish species such as E. sardella and Haplochromine species (Hara and Njaya, 2016). It is very apparent that the shifting will consequently increase harvesting pressure on the resource.…”

Prognosis for long‐term sustainable fisheries in the African Great Lakes

“…Fish catch (thousand tonnes) in southern L. Malawi prior and subsequent to increased focus on offshore fishery from 2000, derived from Weyl et al. () and Hara and Njaya ()…”

“…Increased targeting of offshore demersal and pelagic stocks by the Malawian Artisanal Fisheries Development Project in 2006 increased capacity of the artisanal fleet. In recent years, fish catches in southern L. Malawi have subsequently remained fairly stable (Hara & Njaya, ). Inspection of the 2016 Frame Survey (Department of Fisheries unpublished data) indicates increased effort using mainly offshore gill and chilimira nets and decreased use of beach seines (Figure ).…”

“…Catch data for L. Malawi were based mainly on those reported by Weyl et al. (), supplemented with information on the nature of the demersal artisanal catch from Irvine () and summary catch data for the southern lake region presented in Hara and Njaya (). Given the nature of fisheries data in the lakes and the very large areas over which these are collected, as well as those areas where they are not, the purpose of collating and analysing this study was to identify broad trends in catch relative to current fisheries practice and policies.…”