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The artisanal fishery of Metangula, Lake Malawi/Niassa, East Africa
Abstract
The artisanal fishery of Metangula, on the
remote Mozambique coast of Lake Malawi/Niassa, was studied for four months
during the rainy season from December 1998 to March 1999. Catch, catch composition
and fishing effort were determined for the most important gear types. The
different gears exploited different stocks of fish. Copadichromis spp.
were caught mostly in deep-water seine (chirimila) nets and accounted
for >50% of the total catch. Oreochromis spp. were the major catch in
the beach seine fishery. Labeo mesops and Opsaridium microcephalus
were the most important catches in gill nets. The catfishes Bathyclarias spp.
and Bagrus meridionalis dominated the long line fishery. Since 1983 there
has been a considerable increase in fishing effort. The number of beach seines,
chirimila nets and long lines increased 2.8 times, 2.9 times and 2.5
times, respectively, and there was a four-fold increase in the number of gear
owners and fishing assistants. Comparison with data for Chembe Village in
Malawi indicates that the fish populations at Metangula are not yet as impacted
as they are on the populous and accessible Malawi coast. Some constraints on
the fishery include the lack of management and financial support, poor gear and
infrastructure, and the lack of access to markets.
African Journal of Aquatic Science
2004, 29(1): 83–90
remote Mozambique coast of Lake Malawi/Niassa, was studied for four months
during the rainy season from December 1998 to March 1999. Catch, catch composition
and fishing effort were determined for the most important gear types. The
different gears exploited different stocks of fish. Copadichromis spp.
were caught mostly in deep-water seine (chirimila) nets and accounted
for >50% of the total catch. Oreochromis spp. were the major catch in
the beach seine fishery. Labeo mesops and Opsaridium microcephalus
were the most important catches in gill nets. The catfishes Bathyclarias spp.
and Bagrus meridionalis dominated the long line fishery. Since 1983 there
has been a considerable increase in fishing effort. The number of beach seines,
chirimila nets and long lines increased 2.8 times, 2.9 times and 2.5
times, respectively, and there was a four-fold increase in the number of gear
owners and fishing assistants. Comparison with data for Chembe Village in
Malawi indicates that the fish populations at Metangula are not yet as impacted
as they are on the populous and accessible Malawi coast. Some constraints on
the fishery include the lack of management and financial support, poor gear and
infrastructure, and the lack of access to markets.
African Journal of Aquatic Science
2004, 29(1): 83–90
