Factors influencing choice of fishing location in Nankumba Peninsula: A case of study of gillnet and chilimira fisheries

This study was carried out to identify factors that influence choice of fishing location and carry out profitability analysis of Chilimira and Gillnet in different fishing locations. A survey using semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 99 Gillnet and 101 Chilimira fishers in Nankumba Peninsula in Mangochi District. The logit model was used to determine the factors influencing choice of fishing location among the fishers. The study showed that 92.1% of Chilimira fishers are operating in offshore areas while 69.7% Gillnet fishers are operating in inshore areas. Chilimira offshore fishers have higher daily average gross margins than their inshore counterparts and Gillnet fishers. However, they incurred more operating costs than the inshore Chilimira and Gillnet fishers. Furthermore, they find their fishing occupation more rewarding as evidenced by the higher returns to labour. The factors that influenced fisher’s choice of fishing location were Age of the fisher, type of fishing vessel and gear, possession of motor sail engine and access to information about previous day’s catch rates. Finally the study concluded that artisanal fishers in Malawi use different criteria in deciding where to fish. The criterion involves a complex interaction of biological, technological, personal and economical factors and time. However, the resource constrained artisanal fisher will need support to enable him exploit offshore fishery resources. Consequently the study recommends that appropriate fishery development interventions by the government and other stakeholders must adapt to the economics and lifestyles driving the artisanal fishers to fish in particular locations and therefore, build on this foundation to improve the existing fishing technologies.

Gross energy requirement in fishing operations

Energy is a key input into the fish harvesting process. Efficient use of energy helps in reducing operational costs and environmental impact, while increasing profits. Energy optimisation is an important aspect of responsible fishing as enunciated in the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. Gross Energy Requirement (GER) is the sum of all non-renewable energy resources consumed in making available a product or service and is expressed in energy units per physical unit of product or service delivered. GER is a measure of intensity of non-renewable resource use and it reflects the amount of depletion of earth’s inherited store of non-renewable energy in order to create and make available a product or service. In this study, GER in fish harvesting up to the point of landing is estimated in selected fish harvesting systems in the small-mechanised sectors of Indian fisheries and compared with reported results from selected non mechanised and motorised fishing systems to reflect the situation during 1997-1998. Among the fish harvesting systems studied, GER t fish-1 ranged from 5.54 and 5.91 GJ, respectively, for wooden and steel purse seiners powered by 156 hp engines; 6.40 GJ for wooden purse seiner with 235 hp engine; 25.18 GJ for mechanised gillnet/line fishing vessel with 89 hp engines; to 31.40 and 36.97 GJ, respectively, for wooden and steel trawlers powered by 99-106 hp engines.

South Lancashire Fisheries Advisory Committee 15th October, 1975.

This is the report from the South Lancashire Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 15th October 1975. The report contains sections on planning study for the post 1981 period, reports on fisheries activities, land drainage representation on local committees, proposed new byelaws and fishing licence duties. The section on fisheries activities are reported by area fisheries officers and looks at poaching, Langcliffe and Middleton hatcheries management, number/causes of fish mortalities and biological work carried on Colne Water and Lancaster Canal. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

South & West Cumberland Fisheries Advisory Committee 12th January, 1976.

This is the report from the South and West Cumberland Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 12th January 1976. The report contains sections on land drainage representation on local committees, actions to be taken to solve problems with Braithwaite Weir, Enneralde compensation flow, fisheries activities report, recommendations for future policy by association hatcheries and progress made in implementing the recommendations contained in 'Taking Stock' publication. The section on fisheries activities reported by area fisheries officers looks at migratory fishing and spawning, U.D.N. disease appearance, poaching and prosecutions, biological work at Mockerkin Tarn and the River Calder. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Eden & District Fisheries Advisory Committee 13th January, 1976.

This is the report from the Eden and District Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 13th January 1976. The report contains information on the land drainage representation on local committees, fisheries activities report, salmon stocking on the River Eden, status of Haweswater and Castle Carrock Reservoir, fisheries byelaws, licensing provisions for the River Esk and progress made in implementing the recommendations contained in the 'Taking Stock' publication. The section on fisheries activities reported by area fisheries officers looks at fishing, spawning disease and poaching of migratory fish and coarse fishing. It also contains description of ova obtained at Holmwrange hatchery and provisions of new equipment, biological work carried on Eden and Blackrack Beck and suggestions for new fish counters and traps. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Mersey & Weaver Fisheries Advisory Committee 20th January, 1976.

This is the report from the Mersey and Weaver Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 20th January 1976. The report contains information on land drainage representation on local committees, fisheries activities report, fish mortality in the River Dane and River Weaver, and fishing licence duties. The section on the fisheries activities reported by area fisheries officers looks at requests requiring site investigations, stocking, biological surveys work and fish mortalities. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Eden & District Fisheries Advisory Committee 18th October, 1977

This is the report from the Eden and District Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 18th October, 1977. It covers fisheries income and expenditure, licence duties and a brief bit on draft nets for the River Eden and netting on the Solway Firth. It also looks at the possible development of Rivers Waver and Wampool as a sea trout fishery, in which the report covers the physical descriptions of the catchments, abstractions, discharges, biological aspects, chemical aspects and the present situation regarding fisheries. Also included is the report by the area fisheries officer on fisheries activities which includes information on river conditions and fishing, fish kills on the River Petteril, River Wiza and Ullswater, bailiff activities, stock numbers, and an update on Holmwrangle hatchery. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

South Lancashire Fisheries Advisory Committee 19th October, 1977

This is the report from the South Lancashire Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 19th October, 1977. It covers fisheries income and expenditure, licence duties, fishing regulations, and information on the pollution of Stock Beck. It also comments on the report by the area fisheries officer on fisheries activities which includes information on fish movement and angling for salmon, sea trout, brown trout and coarse fish. Included in this report is also the numbers of fish passing through counting stations from January to August 1977 at Waddow Weir, Winckley Hall and Locks Weir, poaching, fish mortalities, stock numbers and an update on Holmwrangle hatchery. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Lune Wyre & Furness Fisheries Advisory Committee 24th October, 1977

This is the report from the Lune, Wyre and Furness Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 24th October, 1977. It covers fisheries income and expenditure, licence duties, and information on possible reasons for the apparent depletion of fish stocks on the River Leven. It also comments on the progress report on goosanders and mergansers and the consequent effect they were having on fisheries, net licences, erosion and a brief summary of the present situation of the development of coarse angling on Halton Fishery. Also covered is the report by the area fisheries officer on fisheries activities which includes information on fishing conditions, Skerton Weir, Forge Weir Fish Counter, fish mortalities and the construction of the fishery groynes in the River Lune. The report also includes the numbers of fish passing through counting stations at Haverthwaite and Halton, migratory fish propagation and information on the stocking of salmon and sea trout into the Kent, Leven, Crake, Duddon, Keer, Wyre and Lune watershed, and the Lakes of Windermere, Esthwaite and Grasmere watersheds. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

South & West Cumberland Fisheries Advisory Committee 9th January, 1978

This is the report from the South and West Cumberland Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 9th January, 1978. It covers information on water resource development for West Cumbria which includes details on the River Derwent and Ennerdale schemes, fisheries income and expenditure, licence duties, Eskett Quarries and radioactive discharge in relation to fishery interests. It also looks at the report by the area fisheries officer on river conditions and fishing, Holmwrangle Hatchery and stocking. Included in this report is a note on survey work carried out on Braystones Tarn, resources and the collection of fish for hatcheries. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Eden & District Fisheries Advisory Committee 10th January, 1978

This is the report from the Eden and District Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 10th January, 1978. It covers information of fisheries income and expenditure, licence duties, regional water resources study, salmon fishing, radioactive discharge in relation to fishery interests and a brief mention about the possibilities of opening Castle Carrock reservoir for public angling. It also includes the report by the area fisheries officer on river conditions and fishing, Holmwrangle Hatchery and stocking. Included in this report is a note on the survey work carried out on the Upper Eden and Eamont regarding brown trout, the collection of fish for hatcheries, Redd counting and the transfer of coarse fish. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

South Lancashire Fisheries Advisory Committee 11th January, 1978

This is the report from the South Lancashire Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 11th January, 1978. It covers information of fisheries income and expenditure, licence duties, regional water resources study, Worthington reservoirs regarding fishery regulations and radioactive discharge in relation to fishery interests. It also includes the report by the area fisheries officer on river conditions and fishing for salmon, sea trout, brown trout and coarse fish, numbers of migratory fish movements at Waddow Weir, Winckley Hall and Locks Weir, and Langcliffe Hatchery. Included in this report is also a brief note on fish disease in salmon in the Ribble and Hodder, and the improvement of Stock Beck after the pollution incident. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Lune Wyre & Furness Fisheries Advisory Committee 16th January, 1978

This is the report from the Lune, Wyre and Furness Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 16th January, 1978. It covers information on fisheries income and expenditure, licence duties, regional water resources study, fish stocks in the River Leven, Skerton fishery and radioactive discharge in relation to fishery interests. It also includes investigations for future water supplies to South West Cumbria and the report by the area fisheries officer on river conditions and fishing for salmon, sea trout, and coarse fish, numbers of fish movements at Haverthwaite, Broadraine and Forge Weir fish monitoring station. Included in this report is also work at Middleton Hatchery, a brief note on fish disease in migratory fish in the Lune and Kent, and net catch figures for the year for the Rivers Lune, Kent, Leven and Duddon. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Mersey & Weaver Fisheries Advisory Committee 18th January, 1978

This is the report from the Mersey and Weaver Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 18th January, 1978. It covers information of fisheries income and expenditure, licence duties and radioactive discharge in relation to fishery interests. It also includes the report by the area fisheries officer on river conditions and fishing, Tintwistle hatchery, and general fisheries management. Included in this report is also fish mortalities and stocking numbers of coarse fish and non-migratory trout. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

South & West Cumberland Fisheries Advisory Committee 3rd April, 1978

This is the report from the South and West Cumberland Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 3rd April, 1978. It covers information on Eskett Quarries, fisheries income and expenditure, British Steel Corporation's works at Workington effluent disposal and terminated angling leases. It also includes the report by the area fisheries officer on river conditions and fishing, migratory fish movements and Holmwrangle hatchery. Included in this report is also pollution incidents, fish disease and Yearl Weir fish counter. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.