大象传媒

Mbenje Island in Lake Malawi is a special place. Each year the local chief, acting as a "messenger for the gods", opens the island up for fishing from April to December. But for four months each year, the island and its waters are left untouched and uninhabited.

This careful stewardship seems to work well, with fishermen (there are no women allowed) travelling from across the country to enjoy its abundant waters. And now Malawi's fisheries department is considering learning from the island's traditions and plans to introduce similar practices elsewhere, in an effort to conserve fish stocks.

Journalist Charles Pensulo travelled to the island to witness the start of the fishing season.

"According to the people, they believe that it is the gods which are responsible for the abundant fish," he told Newsday. "But according to the fisheries department, they believe that the fact that this island is off-limits for some good four months [allows] the fish to breed uninterrupted, compared to the other areas where the restrictions are not as strong."

Photo: Mbenje island in Lake Malawi as fishermen arrive to start their season. Credit: Charles Pensulo

Show less