Lake Malawi - Empty Nets
Declining fish numbers in the 20 000 square kilometre Lake Malawi appear to be the result of overfishing and climate change.
The many communities living around the Lake depending on the fishing for food and livelihood are facing a collapse of their lifestyle.
The number of fish caught has decreased by up to eighty percent, while environmental changes make the fishing more difficult. Strong winds and heavy rainfall are new factors affecting the fishermen. Moreover, unsustainable overfishing has also reduced the catches.
There was no attempt by authorities to regulate the exploitation of the natural resource.
The number of fishermen has also doubled in the last ten years due to the lack of other jobs in the country.
Malawi's agriculture-based economy is sharply vulnerable to climatic events and increasingly entrenched poverty heightens pressure on the environment.
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