| Fisheries management based on cooperation between regulatory agents and fishing communities, or co-management, is increasingly being promoted throughout the world. Malawi, a small African country, has two inland fisheries, at Lakes Malombe and Chiuta, where co-management has been implemented. Co-management at Lake Malombe was initiated by the Fisheries Department and donor organizations, while at Lake Chiuta, fishermen initiated co-management. To determine the success of these two systems, these case studies were analyzed using the Fisheries Co-management Research Project Analytical Framework, a tool that incorporates community profiles, decision-making arrangements, and management incentives, behaviors, and outcomes. Each approach to co-management has resulted in different roles and expectations for the regulatory agents and fishing communities. These differences will affect the success of co-management arrangements and the sustainability of the fisheries, and they offer valuable insight into designing and implementing appropriate co-management arrangements. |
