Malawi - Institutionalizing Traditional Community-Based Natural Resource Management

Abstract

Malawi, a landlocked country in southern, central Africa, depends on its natural resources, especially the agriculture sector, to meet the demands of a population of about 11 million people. The country has developed a remarkable fishing industry, keeping in mind that about 20 percent of the area is covered by water, including the famous Lake Malawi (called Lake Nyasa by the riparian states, Mozambique and Tanzania). Lake Malawi/Nyasa is the eighth largest freshwater lake in the world, and has the highest known biodiversity of fish species, an estimated 1,000 plus, of any lake in the world. Other important water bodies in Malawi are Lakes Chilwa, Malombe, and Chiuta, and the Shire River system. Fish is an essential part of the nutritional requirements of the population, supplying most of the animal protein consumed, especially for low-income households. More than 90 percent of the catch is landed by the artisanal fisheries sector; and it is estimated that about 250,000 to 300,000 people from the primary and secondary sectors depend on the success and failure of the industry.