Making friends in Malawi
Waiting for fishermen to return close to Nkhata Bay in the central part of Lake Malawi.
By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine.
Last year during the 2024 WhyAfrica Overland Road Trip through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya, we visited several local fishing communities close to Nkhata Bay in the central parts of Lake Malawi.
We had to get up at 4 o’clock in the morning to wait for the fishermen and women to return from their long night’s toil.
Fishing in Lake Malawi is a major economic and cultural activity for the surrounding communities.
The lake is home to a rich diversity of fish species, many of which are endemic to the lake. Some of the key types of fish that are caught include, amongst others, the Nile Tilapia, Chambo, Mbuna cichlids, Utaka cichlids, Catfish and Perch.
Fishing techniques
Fishing techniques vary based on the type of fish and the region but gillnets, hook and line, traps and beach seines are the most common methods used.
Fishing is a crucial part of the local economy in Malawi. It provides food, income, and employment for millions of people. Many communities rely on both subsistence fishing and commercial fishing, with fish being a vital source of protein.
In a good mood
In picture are a few of our newfound friends in a good mood after one of the rare successful fishing nights on the lake.
Fishing in Malawi has not been great lately and some fishermen had to go out looking for alternative employment in urban areas or have turned to subsistence farming instead.
Read more about sustainable fishing on lake Malawi and about developments like mineral exploration and mining in Malawi, and how it is affecting communities and the environment in our recently released WhyAfrica Road Trip Review Report.
The report can be purchased directly on WhyAfrica’s online shop at https://www.whyafrica.co.za/shop/
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