Last Friday saw Friday saw the launch of a K10 billion Restoring Fisheries for Sustainable Livelihoods in Lake Malawi (Refresh) project which the United States Agency for International Development is funding.

The development arrives amidst a struggling fisheries sector which has seen dwindling amounts in fish, while off-season fishing has been rampant. On the other hand, the scarcity of fish in Lake Malawi saw priced being hiked, while Chambo fish was reported to be facing extinction.

On the other hand, Pact Malawi Chief of Party, Alan Brooks, said Malawi’s fisheries sector has become so unstable that there is fear it might collapse if authorities fail to bring new regulations for commercial and small-scale fishermen.

“There is a need for major transformation in the fisheries sector in the way fisheries are managed and regulated. We also need special coordination among the fisheries authorities in all lakeshore districts and at national level to properly implement national fishery framework,” he said.