Name: Malawi island protects vital fish stocks with annual fishing ban
Uploaded: 2025-12-24T16:29:59.126Z
Duration: 2 min 16 s
Description: Fishermen working off the coast of Mbenje island in Lake Malawi abide by tough rules to help protect precious fish stock.

Fishermen working off the coast of Mbenje island in Lake Malawi abide by tough rules to help protect precious fish stock.

Mbenje Island

Mbenje Island in Lake Malawi has implemented a four-month annual fishing ban, longer than the two-month ban observed elsewhere on the lake, to address overfishing and allow fish populations to recover. The island enforces strict local rules, including bans on alcohol, theft, and fighting, and only permits licensed vessels to fish in its waters.

Traditional authority Chief Mbenjeira oversees the regulations, which are rooted in both conservation and spiritual beliefs. The management team prioritizes small-scale fishing operations to sustain the island's fish stocks and protect the livelihoods of local fishermen.

Malawi island protects vital fish stocks with annual fishing ban

Overfishing is a problem everywhere. Here in Lake Malawi, they found a solution. Limits on fishing for a specified period of time. That allows fish to breed and gives young fish time to grow. Residents of the lake's Mbenje Island are used to respecting the rules. Here they govern a lot more than fishing. Here on the island there are rules. They're enforced. No women are allowed. No beer or any kind of alcohol is allowed here. Stealing is not allowed. If you're found stealing, you will be sent off the island. And no fighting is allowed. Only licensed vessels are permitted to fish in the waters off the island and all fishing is banned for four months of the year. Elsewhere on the lake, the ban lasts just two months. Chief Mbenjeira is the traditional authority overseeing the island. As well as protecting the lake's vital fish stock, he says the rules have a spiritual aspect. The island is controlled by spirits. For example, if you kill a snake, if you kill a bird, if you kill a frog, suddenly strong winds will arrive. This can go on for two or three months because the spirits are not happy. When the wind blows for two months, fishermen can't go out fishing. That's why we need to keep the spirits happy every day. My forefathers are buried on the island. Mbenjeira's management team is focused on expanding opportunities for smaller fishing operations rather than commercial fisheries. It's all part of the effort to protect the island's vital fish stocks and the fishermen's trade.

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