Sustainability of Fishing in the Bangweulu Swamps, Zambia

Abstract

This paper explores the ecological and economic dimensions of sustainable resource use in the Bangweulu Swamps, Zambia, base on analysis of data accumulated over a ten year period. Analysis focuses on the four main commercial fishing methods, and reveals a transition of fish species and catch amount varied between 1983 and 1993 for each fishing method. The localized fish trading system has also changed over the decade. Due to the economic degradation of the nation, barter system has become more dominant than cash trade among the fishermen and the fish traders in the swamps. The author fears that a WWF-promoted project begun in 1990 has disregarded the indigenous management of the resources, and advocates taking into account the indigenous way of use.