NRM marine
Bio-economics of common resource over exploitation: case of Lake Malombe Chambo (Oreochromis Sp. Cichilidae) fishery in Malawi
A bio-economic model of fishery exploitation of Lake Malombe Chambo, Malawi
Authors:
F. Manguza-Tembo
Publisher:
Bunda College of Agriculture, 2002
The importance of fisheries resources to the economy of Malawi cannot be understated. These resources make a significant contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), provide both direct and indirect employment and supply relatively cheap protein to the population. The Chambo stocks in Lake Malombe declined rapidly in the late 1980s and collapsed in the early 1990s. This paper examines a number of theoretical economic concepts that are central to the management of the exploitation of the fisheries resources in a manner that ensures sustainable in economic terms. It specifically focuses on the applicability of these concepts to Lake Malombe fisheries .
The author finds that there are a number of underlying factors resulting in overexploitation of Lake Malombe, which are as follows:
- poverty exacerbated by dwindling resources from unsustainable exploitation of fisheries, agricultural land and forests, often as a result of the common property
- open access nature of the resources, poverty exacerbated as a result of resources degradation from sustainable development and pollution; lack of employment opportunities and or socio-economic opportunities to avoid resources overexploitation
- lack of awareness about sustainable resource management amongst stakeholders and policy-makers.
