The Restoring Fisheries for Sustainable Livelihoods (REFRESH) Project, a five-year USAID-funded initiative launched in October 2019, held a close-out dissemination workshop today to share the project’s outcomes and insights, reports Sara Saulosi.
The workshop aimed to present key findings, discuss challenges, engage stakeholders, and provide recommendations for future fisheries programming.
Led by Pact Malawi, in partnership with other organizations, the REFRESH project focused on rebuilding fish populations, particularly the prized Chambospecies, while empowering local communities to manage fisheries through agreements granting user rights. Over 496 beach village committees were established to take charge of water resource management.
Key milestones included the implementation of the fisheries devolution plan, which transferred management responsibilities to district councils.
However, a setback was noted as the Fisheries Act, meant to reflect these new management structures, remains under revision. Dr. Daniel Jamu, Pact Malawi’s Chief of Party, expressed optimism that the Act would soon be updated.
Joseph Magwira, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, confirmed that the bill is ready and will soon be reviewed by the Ministry of Justice before being presented to Parliament.
USAID’s Deputy Mission Director, Michael Rossman, praised the project’s achievements and reiterated USAID’s commitment to supporting Malawi’s sustainable fisheries efforts.
The REFRESH project, funded with a $12 million USAID grant, has contributed to restoring Lake Malawi’s biodiversity and bolstering the livelihoods of lakeshore communities.
As the project concludes, stakeholders remain hopeful that its successes will continue to support the long-term, ecosystem-based management of Lake Malawi’s rich and diverse fisheries resources.
