Tropentag, September 16 - 18, 2026, Göttingen "Towards multi-functional agro-ecosystems promoting climate-resilient futures"

Small-scale fishers' adaptive capacity to climatic variability in Lake Chilwa fishery livelihoods, Zomba, Malawi

¹Lilongwe University, Malawi
²National Biotechnology and Research Development Agency, Agricultural Biotechnology, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the adaptive capacity of small-scale fishers to climate change-induced variability in Lake Chilwa, Zomba District, Malawi, where recurrent lake recessions, erratic rainfall, and prolonged dry periods driven by shifting climate patterns continue to disrupt fish production and livelihoods. The study aimed to evaluate fishers’ socio-economic conditions under climate stress, assess the perceived effectiveness of adaptation strategies against climate shocks, and identify key constraints to climate-resilient adaptive capacity.
A mixed-methods approach was applied, combining household surveys (n = 471), focus group discussions (8 groups, 72 participants), and key informant interviews (n = 15) across mainland and island fishing communities. Data were analysed within the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework to examine access to key assets: human, social, natural, physical, and financial capital.
Results show that climate variability has significantly weakened fishery-based livelihoods, with 78% of households reporting income drops over 60%, driving widespread diversification into farming, ganyu labour, and small-scale enterprises. While these strategies were commonly adopted (by 82% of respondents) and perceived as relatively effective for short-term survival, their overall impact remained limited due to restricted access to credit (only 12% utilisation), savings, productive assets like boats, and institutional support from extension services. Adaptive capacity was further constrained by weak fisher cooperatives and heavy reliance on informal kinship networks.
The findings highlight that livelihood diversification alone is insufficient without improved access to microfinance, stronger local institutions, gender-inclusive training, and targeted climate-resilient technologies. Strengthening these components is critical for building resilient, climate-adaptive fishery-dependent food systems in vulnerable lake environments like Chilwa.

Keywords: Adaptive capacity, climate variability, fishery livelihoods, Lake Chilwa, livelihood diversification, small-scale fishers, sustainable livelihoods framework

Contact Address: Harriet Akoth Oluoch, Lilongwe University, Lilongwe, Malawi, e-mail: oharrietakothgmail.com