A Bioeconomic Analysis of the Industrial and Semi-Industrial
Fisheries of Southern Lake Malawi.

1. INTRODUCTION

As a result of experimental trawling surveys (FAO 1976), it had been believed that demersal fish stocks in Lake Malawi were underexploited. However, between 1976 and 1991, the number of industrial and semi-industrial units operating on Lake Malawi has doubled (from 13 to 26), the number of boat days has increased by 21%, but the total catch has declined by 21% (Table I).

Further expansion of both semi-industrial and industrial sectors is in progress: Maldeco Fisheries has secured a loan for a multipurpose trawler/ringnetter, a new single-boat demersal trawler began operations in 1992, and two new pair trawl licenses have been issued to replace the government-operated units at Salima and Mpwepwe.

Reanalysis of catch and effort statistics, in the light of biological research into the stocks (Turner 1992) indicates:

1. the chambo stock in the S.E.Arm of Lake Malawi is fully exploited;
2. the midwater trawl haplochromine fishery is fully exploited;
3. the deep water haplochromine trawl fishery in the SE Arm is severely overexploited;
4. the pair trawl fishery in Area A is in an unstable phase and probably overexploited;
5. pair trawling in Areas B & C has been irregular, and does not permit a stock assessment to be performed. The size, productivity and potential yields of pair trawling grounds in Areas B & C (or elsewhere) have not been adequately surveyed.

Thus, there are grounds for considering that expansion of these fisheries may not bring the anticipated increases in catches. The economic consequences of various scenarios for development of industrial and semi-industrial fisheries are here considered.

2. CHARACTERISTICS OF INDUSTRIAL AND SEMI-INDUSTRIAL FISHING OPERATIONS

Maldeco fisheries is presently the only fishing operation in Malawi which is regarded as ‘industrial’. It differs from the ‘semi-industrial’ operations, not necessarily in the fishing techniques employed, but in the degree of capitalisation involved. Unlike the semi-industrial operations, Maldeco has invested in such onshore equipment as ice plants, coldrooms, freezers, drying and smoking facilities, and warehouse facilities with a conveyor belt for fish sorting. The company also has retail outlets in Blantyre and Lilongwe, and refrigerated trucks to transport fresh fish to the major cities. In addition, Maldeco has its own slipway and boat and truck workshops. Semi-industrial operators own no onshore facilities. They generally use landing and repair facilities provided by the Fisheries Department. Transport, processing and marketing are the responsibility of fish traders.

Note: units operated by the Malawi Government are indicated by ‘MG’, the high effort level by Crystal Lake in 1976 was a result of night fishing, which has subsequently been banned.

3. INDUSTRIAL FISHERIES

3.1 Trends in Operating Practises in the Industrial Fishery

Maldeco Fisheries Ltd. was created with the nationalisation of the Yiannakis Brothers fishing concern in the mid-1960s. It was operated as part of the parastatal ADMARC until 1990, when it was returned to the private sector as a subsidiary of the Press Corporation Limited.

Under the Yiannakis Bros., ringnetting, gillnetting and seining for chambo was carried out. Following nationalisation, gillnetting and seining were abandoned and pair trawling commenced in 1967. In 1972, the first single boat stern trawler, Dennis Sanudi, began operations, followed by the larger Crystal Lake in 1973, when pair trawling was abandoned.

Crystal Lake initially operated both as a bottom and midwater trawler, with the latter technique, using a 102mm net for chambo and a 38mm net, ostensibly for utaka, but actually mainly targeting immature chambo. Recently, this vessel has operated exclusively as a 38mm midwater trawler (Fig.1). Since 1976, catch rates for chambo have generally been higher with the 102mm net than with the 38mm net (Fig.2). However, the larger-meshed gear does not retain the smaller haplochromine cichlids. Despite this, catch rates for the 102mm net were generally of equal value, in 1991 price terms, to those of the 38mm net (Fig.3), indicating that Maldeco has no economic justification for the abandonment of the larger-meshed trawl. During the 1970s and early 1980s bottom trawling was frequently more economical than midwater trawling, but since the decline in the bottom trawl stocks in the mid-1980s (Turner 1992), midwater trawling has been more profitable, and Maldeco has been justified in its Increased concentration on the midwater trawl.

At present, Maldeco Fisheries operates two trawlers (with a third as a reserve) and two ringnet pairs. The fleet and the other competing fisheries are summarised in Table II.

In addition to Crystal Lake and Dennis Sanudi, Liloya was converted from a ringnet boat to a trawler in 1987. It has not been licensed by the Fisheries Department, but is maintained as a reserve for use when one of the other trawlers in undergoing repair or refit. However, in the year following its conversion it began operations as a full-time demersal stern trawler, and was also operated illegally for substantial periods in 1989 and 1991.

It is intended that a new multipurpose vessel (MPV) will be operational in 1993. This boat will be capable of mechanised ringnetting and midwater or bottom trawling, although it is unclear how much effort will be expended with each gear.

3.2 Bioeconomic Model for Future Development of the Industrial Fishery

Assuming that the new vessel has a fishing power equivalent to the Crystal Lake, the largest of the current fleet, and that the mechanised ringnet will be capable of the equivalent of 24 pulls per day (as projected), the effect of the introduction of this vessel has been modelled, both in terms of its effect on the three main fish stocks (chambo, chisawasawa and ndunduma- see Turner 1992) and on the economic performance of the company. Scenarios excluding the new vessel are also simulated (Table III).

The effects of changing effort levels on the fish stocks are assumed to follow exponential relationships (Fox model)- linear models (Schaefer) give essentially similar results, but indicate rather more dramatic declines in catches at higher effort levels. The model includes the effect of fishing effort by other sectors, held at 1991 levels: chisawasawa are exploited by the stern trawler operated by F.Fatch, and chambo are caught by artisanal fisheries and by pair trawlers. The most recent figures available for the economic performance of Maldeco Fisheries date from 1989, and include projected loan & interest repayments. For this reason, all catch values are given in 1989 prices.

It should be stressed that the predictions of this model should be interpreted as approximate averages of equilibrium conditions, where fishing effort remains constant for a period of several years. They are not predictions of the catch for next year if a particular scenario is followed.

Unchanged Fleet (Scenario 1): This is expected to provide maximum profits for Maldeco Fisheries, at least in the short term- repair and replacement of ageing vessels is likely to increase their costs over the longer term.

Addition of Liloya to Active Fleet (Scenario 2): This boat is currently not licensed to operate on a full-time basis. It is permitted to operate only as a substitute when one of the other trawlers is under repair. Granting of license for full-time operation of this vessel is predicted to result in reduced profits for Maldeco, and reduced catches for both Maldeco and Fatch. This result lends credibility to the predictions of the model, as the Liloya was operated in addition to the other vessels in 1988 and 1989. Use of the Liloya for 6 months in 1988 led to a decline of 47% in the CPUE of the Dennis Sanudi and of 24% of Fatch's trawler.

Notes: (i) for new vessel includes interest repayments & depreciation;
(ii) includes MK 2,688,000 factory/administrative costs etc, & interest on loans for upgrading;
(iii) includes MK 232,000 from other sales.

Withdrawal from Bottom Trawling (Scenario 3) by Maldeco is likely to lead to a substantial reduction in their profits, but the overall fish catch is only marginally reduced, as reduction in effort will lead to a great increase in Fatch's catch. As Fatch is assumed to fish for 250 days (1991 level) in the model, if this huge increase in catches were to lead to profits being invested in improvement of the boat's mechanical reliability, with an increase of fishing effort to 330–350 days per year, this scenario would probably lead to the greatest overall fish yield from the stocks. Alternatively, with the recovery of the chisawasawa stock, Maldeco might choose to switch the Crystal Lake from midwater trawling to bottom trawling for part of the year- this would increase artisanal chambo yields. This is the preferred scenario from the point of view of maximising total yields, and ensuring a wide distribution of profits. Given the anticipated sharp decline in their profitability, it is unrealistic to expect Maldeco Fisheries to agree to this.

MPV Added to Current Fleet, as 38mm Midwater Trawler (4): overexploitation of chambo and ndunduma leads to decline in catch and profits. Artisanal fisheries suffer almost 25% decline in chambo catch.

MPV Added to Current Fleet, as 102mm Midwater Trawler (5): overexploitation of chambo leads to decline in catch and profits.

MPV Replaces Ringnets and Dennis Sanudi (6 & 7): Maldeco can expect to suffer a small decline in profits, until the loan for purchase of the MPV is repaid. Their total catches are likely to remain largely unchanged, but their operating costs will be reduced. The exact level of effort which should be allocated to each gear will depend on the efficiency of the proposed mechanised ringnet. Artisanal fishermen can expect a 6–8% reduction in chambo catches, but Fatch's trawler should have increased yields, leaving total catches unchanged. This is probably the best compromise between Maldeco's requirement to maximise its profitability and the interests of the FD in maximising yields.

Addition of the MPV (38mm Midwater Trawler) and Liloya to Active Fleet (8): based on present levels of profitability of fishing operations, but neglecting the state of the fish stocks, this is the scenario which would be favoured. It is predicted that Maldeco would suffer a sharp decline in profits, artisanal fishermen a loss of 25% of their chambo catch and Fatch's catch would fall to half. Total yields would decline by 10%. These developments would benefit none of the fishing sectors and must therefore be avoided.

4. SEMI-INDUSTRIAL FISHERIES

In addition to Fatch's stern trawler (discussed above), the semi-industrial fishery in the SE Arm of Lake Malawi comprises 7 pair trawl units. Another two units are owned by the Government, one by Mpwepwe Boatyard (which fishes regularly) and another by the Natural Resources College (which is rarely operational). A further seven privately owned units operate in the SW Arm, while two units operated by the Fisheries Dept. are based at Salima. Since 1990, a single private operator has fished in Domira Bay.

In 1991, in the SE Arm, the six units submitting catch returns landed a catch worth MK 725,600. Chambo, at a beach price of MK 2.4/kg accounted for 22% of the catch value. Other species, mainly demersal haplochromine cichlids marketed as chisawasawa and mbaba, sold at an average of MK 0.60/kg. An operations model for a typical pair trawl unit operating at full activity (250 days per annum) is given on Table IV (see Mdaihli & Donda 1992 for details of data collection).

Note: assumes a loan of MK 100,000, repayment over 4 yrs, at 18% interest

4.1 Profitability of Pair Trawling in Different Areas

Since there is no long term correlation between cpue and effort in pair trawl fisheries (Turner 1992), it is not possible to predict future developments resulting from changing effort levels. However there are substantial differences in the mean catch rates of pair trawlers operating in different areas. An economic comparison between these areas would be of value because:

1. there are plans to increase effort in the pair trawl fishery, through the provision of loans to increase the mechanical reliability of the craft;

2. stocks in Area A seem to be in a dangerously unstable condition (Turner 1992) and it may be thought wise to reduce the number of units operating in this area;

3. there are plans to expand fishing operations in northern Lake Malawi.

For this analysis, costs calculated from interviews with owners of three units in the SE Arm, were extrapolated to all areas. Prices assumed: in the SE Arm, MK 2.40 for chambo and MK 0.60 for other species, and outside the SE Arm, MK 2.00 for chambo and MK 0.50 for other species. Catch rates were taken from the average 1987–1991 commercial fisheries catch returns.

Notes: assuming annual effort level of 260 days per unit

This analysis (Table V) indicates that pair trawling is most profitable in the SE Arm, especially in the southern part (Area A), and is uneconomical in Domira Bay (Area G). Most units are unable to fish for 260 days per year. Units can break even if they operate for 85 days per year in Area A, 105 days in Areas B and C, and 145 days in Areas D and E (Fig.4). Even at 365 days per annum, fishing in Area G is unprofitable. Unless fish prices are at least 17% higher than in the SE Arm, and the unit operates at the normal maximum of 260 days per annum, catch rates in Domira Bay are too low for profits to be made.

Considering catch rates since 1976, assuming 1991 operating costs and fish prices and an activity of 260 days per year, it appears that pair trawl operations in Area A and Areas D & E have been profitable over the whole period (Fig.5). In Areas B & C, large profits were made in recent years (possibly through unlicensed fishing in Area A), but it appears that losses were made on several occasions. Note that even at high effort levels, units in Area B/C and G will have made a loss in 1991, while in 1990–91 in the SW Arm, profits are estimated to be the worst recorded.

Thus, despite the heavy fishing pressure in Area A, it has been and still is the most profitable area for semi-industrial fishing operations. It is likely that the profitability in other areas is overestimated, since Area A is a relatively small area, and the fishing grounds are close to landing and refuelling areas. Area A is also the closest to Limbe Market- the main outlet for pair trawl catches (Mdaihli & Donda 1992).

The unprofitability of operations in Domira Bay is a cause for concern. From experimental fishing (FAO 1976), it appears that stock densities to the north of Domira Bay are approximately the same. Thus, despite the presence of large fish stocks in these areas, under current economic conditions, these cannot be economically exploited.

5. DISCUSSION

It is probable that Maldeco's purchase of a new multipurpose vessel will eventually prove to be profitable. However, this will depend on the foresight and restraint of the company's management. An unchecked expansion of their fleet- which will be possible once the new vessel has arrived- would be disastrous. It is clear that Maldeco were unable to appreciate the cause of the decline in deep-water chisawasawa stocks, as their response to a drop in cpue in the mid-1980s was to outfit the Liloya to exploit this stock and operate it illegally for several years, thereby substantially reducing their own profits.

Similarly, their abandonment of the 102mm midwater trawl appears to have been unnecessary. The trend towards increasing use of small-meshed gears is potentially dangerous to chambo stocks. In 1991, Maldeco acquired a 38mm ringnet, which they employed for several months, before being persuaded to suspend its use. Like the 38mm midwater trawl, this gear was supposedly exploiting utaka, but in fact mainly caught immature chambo.

At present, there seems no reason to suppose that Maldeco will be able to operate profitably outside the SE Arm. Longer travelling times and lower catch rates, mean that Maldeco can best maximise its profitability by reducing their operating costs and concentrating on the high-yielding areas of the SE Arm. However, if Maldeco continue to overfish the chisawasawa stocks in the SE Arm, it is possible that stocks will decline to such an extent that even small distant stocks will become more attractive.

Despite the large increase in the number of industrial and semi-industrial fishing units, total catches have declined since the mid-1970s. Lowered catch rates have been attributed to declining mechanical condition of craft, especially in the semi-industrial sector (Tweddle & Magasa 1989). Thus, it has been proposed that loans should be provided to enable semi-industrial fishermen to recondition their craft and thus increase their effort.

However, our analysis indicates that substantial profits are made by pair trawl units operating in the southern part of the SE Arm, and in the SW Arm. Several units are now operating at higher activity levels than in the mid-1970s, and are making higher catch rates. Since some operators are able to keep their units in good condition, and all appear to be profitable, why are some units in poor operating condition? Unquestionably, there are problems with access to spares and repair facilities. However, it also likely that individual owners have different priorities in their use of profits. In 1990, a pair trawl hull cost MK 14,000, while a 26hp inboard diesel engine cost MK 33,000. Thus, a fully active pair trawl unit in the SE Arm generates sufficient profits to pay for the replacement of the entire unit (2 boats & 2 engines) within one year, while in the SW Arm the whole unit could be replaced in two years. Although there are substantial delays in the purchase of spares through the Fisheries Department, it does not seem unreasonable to expect that these could be puchased before breakdown of the unit occurred. Thus, there is no reason to think that the semi-industrial fishery, south of Salima, is inherently unprofitable and requires assistance to make it viable.

The priority of the Fisheries Department is to maximise long-term sustainable fish yields, and not to maintain inefficient fishing businesses operated by a small number of relatively wealthy individuals. The declining trend of fish yields with increasing entry into the fishery suggests that reduction of the number of units through natural wastage should be encouraged.

Furthermore, while deep-water stocks are undoubtedly overfished, shallow-water stocks appear to be in a critical situation in Area A, and may depend on the existence of neighbouring unfished, or lightly-fished areas to maintain stocks. It is probable that the mechanical unreliability of some units has a beneficial effect of maintaining lowered effort levels in the heavily-fished areas. Removal of units to other areas would be detrimental as:

1. catch rates north of Salima are presently inadequate to support a profitable fishery. Owners of these units will therefore be compelled to abandon fishing, seek loans or aid, or exert pressure on the Fisheries Department to permit them to move to more profitable areas;

2. expansion of fishing in Areas B, C and E is likely to reduce the density of the stocks. If these areas act as refuges for fish which then move into adjacent, more heavily-fished areas, then catch rates can be expected to decline in all areas. This is what happened to Maldeco's catch rates in Area B after the introduction of Fatch's stern trawler into Area C (Turner 1992);

3. units licensed to fish in Areas C, E and F are likely to fish in Areas A, B or D, in order to take advantage of higher catch rates and reduced fuel costs- reversal of this trend will require considerable effort by the Fisheries Department enforcement section. This effort would be better spent on extension and enforcement of artisanal fisheries regulations;

4. total extinction of larger species may occur if unfished refuges are eliminated, leading to an irreversible loss of biological diversity.

References

FAO (1976) Promotion of integrated fishery development, Malawi. FI:DP/MLW/71/516 Technical Report 1., based on the work of J. Turner. 73pp.

Mdaihli, M. & Donda, S.J. (1992) Profitability of fishing in Lake Malombe, the Upper Shire River and the South-East Arm of Lake Malawi. FI:DP/MLW/86/013 Field Document 17.

Turner, G.F. (1992) Mechanised fisheries of Lake Malawi. FI:DP/MLW/86/013 Field Document 23.

Tweddle, D. & Magasa, J.H. (1989) Assessment of yield in multispecies cichlid fisheries of the South East Arm of Lake Malawi. J.Cons.int.Explor.Mer. 45, 209–222.

Figure 1. Patterns of gear use by Maldeco's trawler Crystal Lake (day fishing). In most years until 1990, the Crystal Lake was employed on a variety of fishing techniques: 102mm midwater trawl, 38mm midwater trawl and 38mm bottom trawl. In 1990 and 1991, the vessel has been used exclusively as a midwater trawler, using the 38mm net.

Figure 2. Usually, the 102mm trawl has higher catch rates for chambo than the 38mm midwater trawl. 38mm Bottom Trawl had low chambo catches, except in 1977 (perhaps due to a mistake in recording?). Unless the value of the haplochromine bycatch is sufficient to compensate for reduced chambo catches, there would appear to be no sense in the abandonment of the 102mm net.

Figure 3. Total daily catch values were higher for the 38mm midwater trawl than for the 102mm trawl in four years, but lower in four years. Despite its low chambo catch, bottom trawling was more economical than 38mm midwater trawling from 1976 to 1981, but with the licensing of Fatch's trawler causing overfishing of the chisawasawa stock, this pattern has been reversed. Thus Maldeco appears to have good economic reasons for discontinuing bottom trawling with Crystal Lake, but 102 and 38mm midwater trawling would appear to be equally profitable alternatives.

Figure 4. Profitabilities of pair trawling in different areas, in relation to the number of days fished. Despite the long history of high fishing pressure, Area A remains the most profitable. If prices in the SW Arm (D/E) are as high as in the SE Arm (ii), fishing is almost as profitable as in Area A, but at 20% lower prices (i), profits are almost identical to those made in Areas B & C. Assuming prices 20% less than in the SE Arm (i), as indicated by fish traders, profits cannot be made in Area G. Even if prices were as high as in the SE Arm, units must maintain a very high activity level to avoid making a loss.

Area A	Area B/C
Area D/E	Area G

Figure 5. Assuming an average of 260 days fishing per year, pair trawling has always been profitable in Area A, although profits were reduced after the switch from 25 to 38mm mesh size in 1977. In Areas B & C, high profits were made from 1987–1990, but losses were made in four years, including 1991. Pair trawling in the SW Arm (D/E) has always been profitable, but the last two years have been the worst on record. Catch rates in Domira Bay (G) were only able to provide a minimal profit in 1990, but dropped to loss-making levels in 1991. (all at 1991 prices)

GLOSSARY

Artisanal Fishery: a small-scale commercial fishing operation, using various nets and small planked boats or canoes, powered manually or by outboard engine. (chambo & kambuzi seine (qv) nets, nkatcha net (qv), chirimila net (qv), gillnet). Generally referred to in Malawi as ‘Traditional Fisheries’.

Bottom Trawl: Demersal trawl operated by a single boat, usually in water deeper than 50m.

Chambo: 3 endemic species of tilapiine cichlids classified within the subgenus Nyasalapia of the genus Oreochromis.

Chambo Seine: a large-meshed beach seine targeted on chambo (qv).

Chirimila Net: a small seine net used clear of the bottom to catch usipa (qv), utaka (qv) and ncheni (qv).

Chisawasawa: chichewa name for some categories of demersal haplochromine cichlids (qv): (i) large species caught by gillnets; (ii) small species caught by pair trawls (qv); (iii) all species caught by Maldeco Fisheries (qv).

Copadichromis: small zooplankton-feeding haplochromine cichlids (qv). Mostly found inshore in shallow waters, a few metres above the bottom (‘semipelagic’).

CPUE: catch per unit effort. Weight of fish caught in a given unit of time by a standard type of fishing craft. A direct measure of the density of fish in the environment.

Diplotaxodon: a genus of haplochromine cichlids (qv) endemic to Lake Malawi, confined to waters with a bottom depth greater than 20m. Most species are undescribed. The most important food fishes are small pelagic zooplankton feeders- ecological counterparts to Limnothrissa of Lake Tanganyika.

Endemic: naturally-occurring exclusively within a specific area (NB not to be confused with indigenous, which means naturally-occurring within a specific area, but not necessarily only that area).

Fatch: Mr.F.Fatch. Prior to 1992, the only semi-industrial (qv) fishing operator to use a technique other than pair trawling (qv). Owner of a bottom trawl (qv) unit in the S.E.Arm and a pair trawl unit in the S.W.Arm.

Fox Model: a surplus production model for the calculation of the MSY (qv) of a fishery. It is based on a regression of the logarithm of cpue on effort. Appropriate for fish stocks which do not collapse suddenly at high levels of exploitation.

Fmsy: Fishing effort required to produce the MSY (qv).

Haplochromines: demersal, pelagic and semipelagic cichlids of the haplochromine tribe of the family cichlidae. Mostly, but not all, small species.

Industrial Fishery: fishing operation with a high degree of capitalisation, including considerable investment in onshore landing, processing, repair and transport facilities.

Kambuzi: small cichlids caught by seine nets. Mostly small demersal species, but also including juveniles of larger demersal and pelagic species.

Kambuzi Seine: a small-meshed beach seine targeted on kambuzi (qv), usipa (qv) or immature chambo (qv).

Kampango: Bagrus meridionalis, a large predatory catfish.

Lethrinops: a genus of haplochromine cichlids (qv) endemic to Lake Malawi and associated water bodies. Includes most of the important demersal species exploited by trawl fisheries.

Maldeco: Maldeco Fisheries Limited, a subsidiary of Press Incorporated. The only industrial fishing (qv) company presently operating in Malawi.

Mbaba: chichewa name for large demersal haplochromine cichlids (qv) caught by seines or pair trawls (qv).

Mechanised Fishery: a fishery operated by larger craft, using inboard engines (includes both industrial (qv) and semi-industrial (qv) fisheries). Generally referred to as ‘Commercial Fisheries’ in Malawi.

Midwater Trawl: a semipelagic trawl, in which heavy otter boards are set to drag the bottom, but the net is weighted to float clear of the substrate.

MSY: Maximum sustainable yield. The largest weight of fish which can be caught in a given time period (usually one year), without causing a reduction in catch rates in future years.

Ncheni: chichewa name for haplochromine (qv) cichlids of the genus Rhamphochromis (qv).

Ndunduma: chichewa name for haplochromine (qv) cichlids of the genus Diplotaxodon (qv).

Nkatcha Net: a seine net operated from two boats, which is hauled along the bottom and closed (‘pursed’) by a diver.

Pair Trawl: a demersal trawl, without otter boards, pulled by two craft.

Rhamphochromis: a genus of haplochromine cichlids (qv), endemic to Lake Malawi & associated water bodies. Surface-living fish-eaters. Some species are truly pelagic, others inshore-living. Ecological counterparts to Luciolates stappersi and Bathybates of Lake Tanganyika.

Ringnet: a purse seine operated by Maldeco Fisheries (qv). Presently operated by pairs of inboard-powered boats and manually-hauled. Mostly used with 102mm mesh and catching almost exclusively adult chambo (qv).

Schaefer Model: a surplus production model for the calculation of the maximum sustainable yield of a fishery. Based on a linear regression of cpue on effort. Appropriate for fish stocks which show dramatic declines at high fishing effort.

Semi-Industrial Fishery: a mechanised (qv) fishing operation characterised by little or no investment in onshore facilities.

Subsistence Fishery: small scale fishing operation, using inexpensive gears, and producing small catches, often mainly for home consumption (fish trap, handline, longline, cast net, scoop net).

Usipa: a small pelagic cyprinid, Engraulicypris sardella, endemic to Lake Malawi and associated water bodies. Ecological counterpart to Rastrineobola in Lake Victoria and Stolothrissa in Lake Tanganyika.

Utaka: chichewa name for small zooplankton-feeding haplochromine (qv) cichlids, mostly of the genus Copadichromis (qv). Mostly found inshore in shallow waters, a few metres above the bottom, and thus referred to as ‘semipelagic’.

LIST OF CHAMBO FISHERIES RESEARCH REPORTS

A. FIELD DOCUMENTS

1. STATISTICAL AND COMPUTING ASPECTS IN DEVELOPING STATISTICAL SYSTEMS IN MALAWI by C. Stamatopoulos. Field Document 1, July 1989.

2. PREPARATION OF A BASELINE SURVEY OF THE ARTISANAL FISHERIES ON LAKE MALAWI by B. Horemans. Field Document 2, February 1990.

3. STATISTICAL AND COMPUTING ASPECTS OF THE CHAMBO FISHERIES by R. Mahon. Field Document 3, June 1990.

4. A DATABASE FOR THE TRADITIONAL CHAMBO FISHERIES STATISTICAL SURVEY by R. Mahon., S. Alimoso, C. Stamatopoulos, and N.P. van Zalinge. Field Document 4, June 1990.

5. FRAME SURVEY OF THE SOUTH EAST ARM OF LAKE MALAWI, THE UPPER SHIRE RIVER AND LAKE MALOMBE by S.B. Alimoso, M.B.D. Seisay, N.P. van Zalinge, M. Mdaihli and S. Donda. Field Document 5, July 1990.

6. AN EFFICIENT METHOD FOR CATCH-EFFORT SAMPLING OF THE ARTISANAL CHAMBO FISHERIES OF THE SOUTH EAST ARM OF LAKE MALAWI, THE UPPER SHIRE RIVER AND LAKE MALOMBE by S.B. Alimoso, M.B.D. Seisay and N.P. van Zalinge. Field Document 6, March 1991.

7. MTF - MALAWI TRADITIONAL FISHERIES, COMPUTER USER MANUAL by C. Stamatopoulos. Field Document 7, March 1991.

8. ESTIMATION OF CONVERSION FACTORS FOR CONTAINERS USED IN TRADITIONAL FISHERIES FOR CHAMBO by M.B.D. Seisay and J. Phiri. Field Document 8, July 1991.

9. PRELIMINARY NOTE ON THE DECLINE OF THE CHAMBO CATCHES IN LAKE MALOMBE by N.P. van Zalinge, S.B. Alimoso, S.J. Donda, M. Mdaihli, M.B.D. Seisay and G.F. Turner. Field Document 9, March 1991.

10. FISH MARKETING IN THE MANGOCHI AREA OF MALAWI by D.S. Liao. Field Document 10, November 1990.

11. FISHERMAN-ENTERPRENEURS - A BASELINE SURVEY by M. Mdaihli and S. Donda. Field Document 11, July 1991.

12. THE ECONOMIC STATUS OF CREW MEMBERS by M. Mdaihli and S. Donda. Field Document 12, June 1991.

13. THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN CHAMBO FISHERIES by M. Mdaihli and S. Donda. Field Document 13, June 1991.

14. AN EVALUATION OF THE MALAWI CATCH ASSESSMENT SURVEY SYSTEM FOR TRADITIONAL FISHERIES by G.F. Turner, M.B.D. Seisay and N.P. van Zalinge. Field Document 14, March 1992.

15. VALIDITY CHECK IN CATCH EFFORT SAMPLING IN THE TRADITIONAL CHAMBO FISHERIES IN THE SOUTH-EAST ARM OF LAKE MALAWI, THE UPPER SHIRE RIVER AND LAKE MALOMBE by M.B.D. Seisay, H.J. Phiri and P.K. Mpezeni. Field Document 15, October 1991.

16. FISH MARKETING IN LAKE MALOMBE, THE UPPER SHIRE RIVER AND THE SOUTH-EAST ARM OF LAKE MALAWI by M. Mdaihli, M.M. Hara and M.C. Banda. Field Document 16, March 1992.

17. PROFITABILITY OF FISHING IN LAKE MALOMBE, THE UPPER SHIRE RIVER AND THE SOUTH-EAST ARM OF LAKE MALAWI by M. Mdaihli and S.J. Donda. Field Document 17, July 1992.

18. RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CHAMBO STOCKS OF LAKES MALOMBE AND MALAWI AND THE UPPER SHIRE RIVER by M.B.D. Seisay, G.F. Turner and N.P. van Zalinge. Field Document 18, July 1992.

19. POPULATION DYNAMICS AND STOCK ESTIMATES OF CHAMBO (OREOCHROMIS SPP.) IN THE SOUTH-EAST ARM AND LAKE MALOMBE - LENGTH BASED APPROACH by M.B.D. Seisay, N.P. van Zalinge and G.F. Turner. Field Document 19, July 1992.

20. AGE AND GROWTH PARAMETERS OF CHAMBO (OREOCHROMIS SPP.) IN THE SOUTH-EAST ARM OF LAKE MALAWI, AS DETERMINED FROM OPERCULAR BONES by M.C. Banda. Field Document 20, July 1992.

21. DISTRIBUTION AND BIOLOGY OF CHAMBO (OREOCHROMIS SPP.) IN LAKES MALAWI AND MALOMBE by G.F. Turner and N.C. Mwanyama. Field Document 21, July 1992.

22. A BIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS FOR SOME OF THE INDUSTRIAL AND SEMI-INDUSTRIAL FISHERIES OF SOUTHERN LAKE MALAWI by G.F. Turner and M. Mdaihli. Field Document 22, July 1992.

23. MECHANIZED FISHERIES OF LAKE MALAWI by G.F. Turner. Field Document 23, July 1992.

24. PREDICTIVE MODEL FOR THE LAKE MALOMBE FISHERIES by N.P. van Zalinge, M. Mdaihli, G.F. Turner, and M.B.D. Seisay. Field Document 24, July 1992.

25. REPORT ON FISHERIES LEGISLATION IN MALAWI by A. van Houtte. Field Document 25, July 1992.

26. THE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF LAKE MALOMBE, THE UPPER SHIRE RIVER AND THE SOUTH-EAST ARM OF LAKE MALAWI by the Ad-Hoc committee established at the Chambo Fisheries Research Project's workshop on 11 July 1992. Field Document 26, October 1992.

B. TECHNICAL PAPERS

1. FISHERIES MANAGEMENT IN THE SOUTH-EAST ARM OF LAKE MALAWI, THE UPPER SHIRE RIVER AND LAKE MALOMBE, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE FISHERIES ON CHAMBO (OREOCHROMIS SPP.). REPORT ON THE WORKSHOP HELD AT MANGOCHI, 8–11 JULY 1992. Technical Paper 1, August 1992.

C. OTHER REPORTS

1. IDENTIFICATION OF OREOCHROMIS SPECIES FROM LAKE MALAWI USING MITOCHONDRIAL DNA by D.M. Reid, R.N. Zaba and T.J. Pitcher, FAO, Rome 1990.