Resource information
Malawi, a landlocked country in
southern, central Africa, depends on its natural resources,
especially the agriculture sector, to meet the demands of a
population of about 11 million people. The country has
developed a remarkable fishing industry, keeping in mind
that about 20 percent of the area is covered by water,
including the famous Lake Malawi (called Lake Nyasa by the
riparian states, Mozambique and Tanzania). Lake Malawi/Nyasa
is the eighth largest freshwater lake in the world, and has
the highest known biodiversity of fish species, an estimated
1,000 plus, of any lake in the world. Other important water
bodies in Malawi are Lakes Chilwa, Malombe, and Chiuta, and
the Shire River system. Fish is an essential part of the
nutritional requirements of the population, supplying most
of the animal protein consumed, especially for low-income
households. More than 90 percent of the catch is landed by
the artisanal fisheries sector; and it is estimated that
about 250,000 to 300,000 people from the primary and
secondary sectors depend on the success and failure of the industry.
