AQUACULTURE by LEONARD MASAULI
For Fair Planet
A rising temperature and overfishing threaten livelihoods.
Likoma islanders are experimenting with caged fish to restore their Lake Malawi catches.
Using enclosed nets with floating bamboo and drums, they are farming fish amid dwindling open-water catches.
Pilot batch project
With a pilot, batch just a year old, fish farmers at Likoma Agri-Enterprise say caged fish farming is showing promising results.
Fishing is the primary source of livelihood for people on Likoma and Chizumulu islands, where most households depend on fish for food and income.
Lake Malawi is home to over 700 fish species, including the famous Chambo tilapia.
Research by Carolyne Chinguwo Munthali shows climate change and overfishing are threatening the lake’s fishing industry.
Floating cages
Likoma Agri Enterprise is growing fish in a floating cage to fight against declining fish stocks.
Recently, the company harvested 392 caged fish weighing 300 kilograms from its high-capacity fish cage installed in 2024.
Aquaflink Services fabricated the initiative with support from the National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) and Mzuzu University.
Kazembe:
“It can supplement dwindling catches.”
“This is a strategic response to overcome the threat of climate change and promote resilience against overfishing, empowering the local community,” she says.
Banda said the initiative could also boost food security, especially fish protein, and provide demand in areas where traditional fishing is no longer viable.
“The initiative is environmentally applicable,” he said. “It requires land and water which local communities can easily access.”
Banda, a fish cage operator at Likoma Agri Enterprise, said:
“Traditional fishing is vulnerable to erratic weather patterns. Fish caging is a controlled environment reducing dependence on wild stocks affected by climate change and overfishing.”
By cultivating fish in cages, communities can reduce pressure on natural waters while meeting nutritional and economic needs.
Potential risks
Deputy Director for Fisheries Jacquelyn Kazembe said cage fish farming provides an alternative livelihood to fishing, especially for areas affected by overfishing.
However, she warned that fish cage farming should be done responsibly to avoid damaging ecosystems and competing with other water users.
“Rearing fish in floating cages can raise risks linked to land acquisition and water management compared to pond aquaculture,” she said.
“Cages give much higher yields per volume, making them more efficient, but must be monitored well.”
Kazembe said cage fish farming helps supplement dwindling fish stocks and improves fish supply, enhancing nutrition and income security.
