AFLANET

Lake Malawi is shared between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania and is known by a different name (Malawi, Niassa, and Nyasa) respectively in each country.
It is the third deepest freshwater lake in the world.
It has a number of inflowing rivers including Ruhuhu, Rukuru, Songwe, Dwangwa, Lilongwe, Cobue, and Bua and one outflow, River Shire.
The water input to the lake is from rainfall (~57%) and river inflow (~43%) while the water loss is through evaporation (~83%) and river outflow (~17%).
The lake experienced major decline in lake levels at the beginning of 15th century and had persistent low levels up to mid-19th century.

Basin population varies considerably around the lake between 25 - 250 persons per km2.
About 50.7% of the population around the lake live below the poverty line and 25% in extreme poverty.
Much of the population lacks clean water and have poor sanitation.
There is high prevalence of water related diseases such as schistosomiasis.

Lake Malawi is the most fish species-rich lake in the world with >1000 species, >80% endemic cichlids.
The stocks of the large (>20cm) original commercially important native tilapias ‘Chambo’ and endemic cyprinids, Labeo mesops have collapsed due to over-exploitation.
The fishery has shifted to become dominated by small pelagic species Engraulicypris sardella ‘Usipa’ which contribute up to 35% of the annual fishery yields of 44,000 tons.
The fishery employs 56,000 fishers.
Ornamental fish trade especially of the beautiful 'Mbuna' fishes is important on the lake and they also provide tourist attraction.
Nile tilapia which displaced native tilapias from other lakes is used in aquaculture in the basin and could displace remnants of the native tilapia if it invaded the lake and measures should be taken to prevent it.
There is cage fish farming on the lake which provides alternative fishery livelihood option.

The lake is meromictic and still oligotrophic but increased cultivation and deforestation on steep slopes, and nutrient enrichment from cage aquaculture might overtime change the trophic status of the lake and should be monitored and regulated.
The water hyacinth is present along River Shire which flows out of the lake and efforts should be made to prevent it from spreading into the lake.
Climate warming by 0.7oC has increased stability of the water column, and is affecting nutrients fluxes, primary and secondary production and the food web of the lake.

The habitat of the lake is being degraded due to deforestation especially on steep slopes.
There are two hydroelectric dams along the Shire river.
There are no major urban centers along the lake shore with only one major town Lilongwe located within the lake basin.
There are oil reserves in the region and measures should be taken to ensure that exploration and exploitation does not affect the lake.

A number of programs have been implemented on the lake to guide it management. These include: The Artisanal Fisheries Development project funded by The African Development Fund; The Malawi/Nyasa Biodiversity project by the World Bank 1995-2000; and USAID has implemented a project to build resilience of fishers by promoting co-management to safeguard the rich biodiversity of the lake and combating deforestation.

Riparian countries have policies and institutions to guide development and exploitation of natural resources.
There is no regional mechanism for harmonizing policies and regulations among the countries sharing the lake.

There are research and management institutions to generate management information.
There seems to be limited coordination between the three countries sharing the lake to the extent that the lake is known by a different name in each of the riparian countries.

Specific efforts should be made to protect the rich fish species diversity of the lake.
The fish effort on the lake should be regulated.
Develop alternative livelihood options specific to fishers.
Develop plans to improve recovery of stocks of large commercial species.
Efforts should be made to control fish introductions and more specifically to prevent entry of Nile tilapia which has affected native tilapias in other lakes.
Develop species specific management plans for small pelagic fishes whose stocks are increasing.
Monitor and control the spread and proliferation of aquatic weeds.
Investigate impacts of climate change on aquatic productivity, fisheries and livelihoods, and develop adaptation and mitigation measures.
Promote sustainable land management practices in the lake basin.
Develop a regional mechanism to harmonize management measures between the three countries are harmonized.
Strengthen capacity of research and managing institutions.
Develop sustainable funding mechanisms.
Mobilize and share management information data, and best management practices.