EFFECTS OF MWERA ON ORNAMENTAL FISHERY AND ORNAMENTAL FISHER’S ADAPTIVE CAPACITY AT SENGA-BAY

Ornamental Fishery in Lake Malawi looks at cichlid species locally called Mbuna. Several studies in Malawi have evaluated the effects of climate change and Mwera on non-cichlid fish endemic but not Ornamental Fishery in specific. For this reason, the study sought to investigate the effects of Mwera on Ornamental Fishery and Ornamental Fishers' adaptive capacity at Senga Bay. The main objective was to determine the impacts of Mwera on Ornamental Fishery in Lake Malawi at Senga Bay. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the impacts of Mwera wind speed on the Ornamental fish-folk and Ornamental fishing duration at Senga Bay, the number of most exported Ornamental Fish from Stuart M Grant Limited during the Mwera season and non-Mwera season, the effects of Mwera wind speed on the choice of Ornamental fishing techniques and equipment used by Ornamental Fisher-Folk at Senga Bay and document the coping and adaptive strategies of the Ornamental fishing community at Senga Bay. To realise the purpose of the study, a descriptive study design was adopted. The primary data was collected from 44 randomly selected respondents at the headquarters of Stuart M Grant Limited. Secondary data was also obtained from the DCCMS and Stuart M Grant Limited to complement the study. The data generated was edited, coded and entered into Microsoft Excel 2019 and R studio packages for analysis. After that, qualitative analysis such as content analysis and quantitative analysis using frequencies, percentages and means were used to analyse data. The summary was presented by using tables and graphs. The study established that Strong Mwera wind speeds have adverse impacts on Ornamental Fishery like loss of life due to boat submergence, loss of fishing gear in the water, no exports of Ornamental fish and sickness of Ornamental fish workers. The study, therefore, concludes that Mwera affects Ornamental Fishery at Senga Bay. In respect of the finding of the study, it was recommended that there should be the implementation of sustainable alternative ways to improve the resilience of Ornamental Fish Industries. Moreover, the forecasts of Mwera by the government and private sectors should be downscaled to small spatial scales.

Several studies in Malawi have evaluated the effects of climate change and Mwera on non-cichlid fish endemic but not Ornamental Fishery in specific. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the impacts of Mwera wind speed on the Ornamental fish-folk and Ornamental fishing duration at Senga Bay, the number of most exported Ornamental Fish from Stuart M Grant Limited during the Mwera season and non-Mwera season, the effects of Mwera wind speed on the choice of Ornamental fishing techniques and equipment used by Ornamental Fisher-Folk at Senga Bay and document the coping and adaptive strategies of the Ornamental fishing community at Senga Bay. The study established that Strong Mwera wind speeds have adverse impacts on Ornamental Fishery like loss of life due to boat submergence, loss of fishing gear in the water, no exports of Ornamental fish and sickness of Ornamental fish workers. In respect of the finding of the study, it was recommended that there should be the implementation of sustainable alternative ways to improve the resilience of Ornamental Fish Industries.

The study was carried out at Stuart M Grant Limited in Salima District. Stuart M Grant Limited is found at 13.7764oS and 34.6154oE (https://lakemalawi.com.fag.htm). Stuart M Grant Limited was chosen because it is the oldest, largest and most experienced Lake Malawi cichlid exporter (BBC, 2019). This makes Stuart M Grant Limited have information and knowledge of Ornamental Fishery in Malawi. The headquarters of Stuart M Grant Limited is located at plot number 54, Kambiri Point, South Senga Bay ( https://www.lonelyplanet.com ).

Traditional authority: TA Maganga

District: Salima

Coordinates: -13.78565, 34.54095