Scientist calls for growth of fish farms in Malawi as fish stocks in huge Lake Malawi plunge

Dramatic fish decline in Lake Malawi causes alarm

BLANTYRE, Malawi — The supply of fish in the world’s eighth-largest lake has plunged by more than 90 percent over two decades, according to researchers who say more fish farms must be built to reduce fishing pressure on Lake Malawi.

Dr. Daniel Jamu, a senior scientist at the World Fish Center in Malawi, says the nation needs to find alternatives for the falling stocks of fish.

The amount of fish from Lake Malawi has declined from about 30,000 metric tons a year 15 to 20 years ago to currently 2,000 metric tons per year, according to Raphael Mwenenguwe of the Research Into Use office.

A drop in the lake’s water levels in recent years caused the decline, Mwenenguwe says, along with population growth and overfishing.