A Bioeconomic Analysis of the Industrial and Semi-Industrial Fisheries of Southern Lake Malawi.
A report prepared by the GOM/FAO/UNDP Chambo Fisheries Research Project
MALAWI
| A Bioeconomic Analysis of the Industrial and Semi-Industrial Fisheries of Southern Lake Malawi. |
FI:DP/MLW/86/013 Field Document 22, July 1992.
by
G.F. Turner and M.Mdaihli.
For bibliographic purposes this document should be cited as follows:
Turner, G.F. and M.Mdaihli. 1992 A bio-economic analysis of the industrial and semi-industrial fisheries of southern Lake Malawi. GOM/UNDP/FAO Chambo Fisheries Research Project, Malawi. FI:DP/MLW/86/013, Field Document 22: 19p.
This report was prepared during the course of the Chambo Fisheries Research project. The conclusions and recommendations given in the report are those considered appropriate at the time of its preparation.
The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country or sea area, or concerning the delimination of frontiers.
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANISATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Monkey Bay, Malawi, July 1992
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A Bioeconomic Analysis of the Industrial and Semi-Industrial Fisheries of Southern Lake Malawi.
2. CHARACTERISTICS OF INDUSTRIAL AND SEMI-INDUSTRIAL FISHING OPERATIONS
LIST OF CHAMBO FISHERIES RESEARCH REPORTS
Bioeconomic modelling was used to investigate eight scenarios for the development of the industrial fishery to predict which would optimise the joint management of the chambo, chisawasawa, and ndunduma stocks exploited by the industrial, semi-industrial and artisanal fisheries. To maximise total yields and ensure wide distribution of profits, Maldeco Fisheries (the only industrial company) should retain their present ringnet and midwater trawl operations, but their bottom trawl license should be withdrawn. Since this would greatly reduce the profitability of Maldeco, it is considered that this option is unrealistic.
From the viewpoint of maximising the profitability of Maldeco, two options have approximately equal results: retention of the current fleet, or replacement of all vessels except the Crystal Lake by a new multipurpose vessel. The new vessel should operate a mix of bottom trawl, 102mm midwater trawl and ringnet. Maximal expansion of Maldeco's operations by the addition, to the current fleet, of the Liloya and the proposed new vessel would be disastrous.
Semi-industrial (pair trawl) operations are highly profitable in the SE Arm of Lake Malawi. In Area A and in the SW Arm, operations have been consistently profitable for the last 16 years. In the northern part of the SE Arm, while large profits are sometimes made, units sometimes operate at a loss. Pair trawling in Domira Bay is uneconomical, and it seems probable that this would also be true of other areas to the north.
Loans to expand fishing effort or to support inefficient operations are unnecessary since: (i) expansion of the fishing fleet and fishing effort has already led to a decline in catches; (ii) several stocks are already overfished or are in a dangerously unstable state; (iii) underfished areas probably cannot be economically exploited at present; (iv) some operators have been consistently able to improve their performance, without external intervention. Given that there are too many pair trawl units presently in operation, it is recommended that natural wastage should be permitted to reduce effort levels.
Map showing the project's working area and statistical divisions (minor strata).