Selecting indicators to assess the fisheries of Lake Malawi and Lake Malombe: Knowledge base and evaluative capacity

Zwieten, P.A.M. van; Banda, M. C.; Kolding, Jeppe

doi:10.1016/j.jglr.2010.11.001

Cited by 11 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Assessments using empirical indicators should be structured to integrate expert knowledge (Chrysafi et al 2017), perhaps harnessing "data-less" knowledge (Johannes 1998) to interpret indicator trends (Shephard et al 2019a(Shephard et al , 2019b. Accessible metrics should be close to raw data and have few assumptions (Van Zwieten et al 2011;Njaya 2018). Users could be local experts (Prince 2003) or co-management groups who need an approximate impression of state to inform "nudges" in behavior (Mackay et al 2018).…”

Section: Empirical Indicatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Amazon Catfish to Mekong Money Fish: Size‐based Assessment of Data‐Limited Commercial Inland Fisheries

et al. 2021

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Inland fisheries are often complex, spatially dispersed, and seasonal. A lack of monitoring can result in unreliable or incomplete catch data, suggesting a role for assessment methods based on population size structure. This paper evaluates and compares empirical size-based indicators and the length-based spawning potential ratio model as candidate tools for assessing data-limited commercial fisheries in inland systems. Case study applications are presented for a contrasting set of important fisheries in the Amazon Basin (Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru), the Tonlé Sap River (Cambodia), Paraná River (Argentina), and Bayano Reservoir (Panama). These case studies were selected to explore the effects on assessment of factors including lack of life history information, spatial separation of life history stages, modality in population size structure of floodplain river fish, and fishing gear selectivity. An international workshop was organized to bring together experts from the study systems and elsewhere to discuss the results, and to highlight potential issues and caveats. It was concluded that length-based models may work well in cases where size-selective gears are used to target a few larger species with reliable life history parameter estimates. Empirical surveillance indicators are more flexible for integrating quantitative data with local expert knowledge in common data-poor situations. In general, size-based assessment can provide guidance for the sustainable management of target species in diverse inland fisheries.

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Section: Empirical Indicatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Amazon Catfish to Mekong Money Fish: Size‐based Assessment of Data‐Limited Commercial Inland Fisheries

et al. 2021

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“…Rice dominates in the lowland areas of the lake. The rapid population growth in the catchment and limited landholding capacity and economic opportunities push the local population to depend on fishing such that the fishery has undergone a tremendous dynamic over the past three decades due to over‐exploitation and ecological changes (Makwinja, Kaunda, Alemiew, et al, 2021; van Zwieten et al, 2011). For example, four large endemic Oreochromis spp ( O .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The rapid population growth in the catchment and limited landholding capacity and economic opportunities push the local population to depend on fishing such that the fishery has undergone a tremendous dynamic over the past three decades due to over-exploitation and ecological changes (Makwinja, Kaunda, Alemiew, et al, 2021;van Zwieten et al, 2011). For example, four large endemic Oreochromis spp (O. shiranus shiranus, O. karongae, O. squamipinnis and O. lidole) collapsed in the 1990s due to unsustainable exploitation, water level fluctuation, increasing silt-load, the removal of mangroves and aquatic vegetation (van Zwieten et al, 2011). It should be noted that this study did not quantitatively estimate all the ESs.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic value of tropical inland freshwater shallow lakes: Lesson from Lake Malombe, Malawi

et al. 2021

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Freshwater lakes provide critical ecosystem services (ESs) to local and global communities. However, many of these lakes are under serious threat from degradation, over-exploitation and pollution instigated by unsustainable use and a lack of practical management approaches. Under such conditions, it is critical to quantify the ESs of these lakes and uncover factors affecting local population participation in the conservation. The current study aims to fill this research gap by employing data collection techniques such as household surveys, focus group discussion, field observation, key informant interviews, consultative meetings and a meta-analytical approach. Lake Malombe has been selected to depict the African freshwater ecosystems' scenarios.The findings show that 97.74% of the households depend on the lake ESs. The ESs contribute US$124.36 million/year-about 1.97% of Malawi's GDP and US$1943.08/ household/year. Factors such as literacy level, household level of income, age of household head, gender of household and household experiences food shortages significantly (p < 0.05) influenced participation level. The study recommends integrating the economic incentive model into the local policy framework. For example, promoting ecotourism, agroforestry and integrated fish farming can provide economic incentives, reduce direct dependency and increase local participation in conservation.

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“…Anderson et al (2014) assert that in addition to the use of the FPIs framework as a tool for identifying fisheries that are poorly performing, it is also useful for formulation of sound policies and strategies. Van Zwieten et al (2010) also recommend the need for a socio-economic assessment of Lake Malawi fisheries.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecosystem approach to fisheries in southern Lake Malawi: Status of the fisheries co-management

Njaya¹

2018

Aquatic Ecosystem Health &Amp; Management

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The decline of the valuable Chambo (Oreochromis species) in the southern part of Lake Malawi, where an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries is being applied, is a major economic and ecological concern. Annual Chambo fish harvests have continued to show a downward trend especially for the past two decades thereby adversely affecting the livelihoods of many fishers, processors and traders along the value chain. As part of the institutional agenda within the ecosystem approach to fisheries, a key question remains on the status of the fisheries co-management, which was introduced in the area in the mid 1990s. This article applies a fishery performance indicator framework to assess the fisheries comanagement in the study area as baseline information for the development of the ecosystem approach to fisheries. The assessment is based on an expert analysis by the author and a review of previous study reports on the fisheries co-management as a governance reform. Results show weak fisheries governance with the existence of several challenges and threats that continue to impact on the ecosystem status like continued use of illegal fishing practices, climate change and unlimited entry. To improve fisheries co-management, the fishing by-laws that were formulated in 2007 need to be approved by Mangochi district authorities within the on-going decentralization process.

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Selecting indicators to assess the fisheries of Lake Malawi and Lake Malombe: Knowledge base and evaluative capacity

Cited by 11 publications

References 47 publications

From Amazon Catfish to Mekong Money Fish: Size‐based Assessment of Data‐Limited Commercial Inland Fisheries

From Amazon Catfish to Mekong Money Fish: Size‐based Assessment of Data‐Limited Commercial Inland Fisheries

Economic value of tropical inland freshwater shallow lakes: Lesson from Lake Malombe, Malawi

Ecosystem approach to fisheries in southern Lake Malawi: Status of the fisheries co-management

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