Fisheries

The COMACO approach to reducing threats to wildlife and forests can also apply to naturally-stocked fisheries. Poverty and hunger can force people to over-exploit their local fisheries with undersized-mesh fishing nets to earn money needed to buy food from shortfalls caused by poor farming or to meet domestic needs when other income sources are lacking. The impact on fisheries when harmful fishing practices are used and can be devastating and can lead to increased exploitive pressures on other renewable resources like wildlife. COMACO is trying to reverse these trends in the Luangwa and Zambezi Rivers, where fish populations could sustain long-term local economies if managed properly.