From Exploitation to Lake Leadership: How Malawian Women Rewrote the Rules of Fishing

Written by: Mohammed Omran

For decades, men have dominated the fishing sector in Malawi, while women's roles were confined to household chores, fish processing, net mending, and marketing. However, this reality has begun to witness a remarkable shift, with women forcefully entering the fishing profession, owning boats and nets. This move aims to achieve gender equality and eradicate the phenomenon of “sex for fish,” which for years has been one of the most dangerous forms of exploitation in coastal communities.

From Exploitation to Lake Leadership: How Malawian Women Rewrote the Rules of Fishing

Estimates from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) indicate that women account for 28% of the global workforce in the aquaculture sector, 18% in fisheries, and nearly half of those engaged in pre- and post-harvest activities within the value chain, In sub-Saharan Africa, the proportion of women working in fish processing and trade exceeds 80%, while men continue to dominate fishing operations and ownership of boats and fishing gear.

Women have risen to meet the challenges in the report published on the “African Arguments” website, asserting that they have been oppressed for a long time and that the time has come to change this reality. Today, they own boats, canoes, and fishing nets, and work side-by-side with men on equal footing.

Zaya, 53, owns two boats and fishing nets, and says she decided to buy fishing equipment after noticing the profits made from this activity. Today, she hires men to do the fishing on her behalf.

Owning boats and fishing nets gives women the opportunity to break the dominance.

She added: ”Ellen Zaya says: “Culture has hindered women's progress for far too long, and we want to put an end to that.” It wasn't easy for men to accept our presence with them in the water and practicing fishing; they resisted at first, but today they consider us part of them.”.

Zaya, along with many other women at the fishing landing site in Liwalazi town in Nkhotakota District, central Malawi, confirmed that they are determined to end the so-called ”sex for fish trade,” which they see as having contributed to rising HIV infection rates and threatened many lives.

Malawi women storm fishing lakes, breaking men's monopoly

And to protect families from sexually transmitted diseases within fish landing sites, fishermen established beach village committees and cooperatives.

A larger number of women have been intentionally appointed to these committees, with the aim of enabling them to participate in decision-making that serves their interests.

“We made sure to involve more women in decision-making positions because we want to encourage them to do business and empower them to make decisions that benefit them,” said Stanford Massina, chairman of the Tokumbe Cooperative Fisheries Association in Nkhata Bay District.

Fish monitoring committees and cooperatives are local organizations established in most fish landing sites. Their aim is to protect fish resources, eliminate the phenomenon of sex for fish, and promote the economic empowerment of local fish traders.

Maggie Chiomia, a fisherwoman who owns a boat and fishing net at the Tokomaru fish landing site in Ncuta Bay district, said: “We implemented a system that prevents the secret sale of fish, as all fish are sold at public auction to the highest bidder.”.

She added that the adoption of public auctions has limited the exploitation of women and their forced sexual intercourse in exchange for fish, and has also given them confidence in their ability to buy fish without facing any exploitation.

And for women, the phenomenon of sex-for-fish is a form of gender-based abuse and violence, and they have pledged to eradicate it completely at all fish landing sites across the country.

“Women have been victims of this practice for a long time, but auctioning fish not only protects them but also contributes to protecting men from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections,” said Levigen Conjoy, a member of the Beach Village Committee in Nkota Kota.

For his part, Herbert Mwalukomo, Executive Director of the Center for Environmental Policy and Advocacy (CEPA), said that the phenomenon of "sex for fish" is a serious problem in the fisheries sector and can be reduced through a transparent trade system.

He added: “Clearly, this phenomenon, which is a common problem in fish landing sites, can be mitigated through a transparent trading system that provides equal opportunities for all to buy fish. This will also contribute to reducing the spread of HIV, while increasing women's participation at various stages of the value chain in the fishing sector.”.

In turn, George Jube, Executive Director of the Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN), said that the phenomenon of "sex for fish" continues to be a major concern for public health, human rights, gender equality, and HIV prevention efforts.

He pointed out that, despite the progress made through awareness campaigns, the establishment of beach village committees and fisheries cooperatives, and women's empowerment initiatives, isolated cases are still recorded in some fishing communities.

He added: “The ”sex for fish' phenomenon is not just an issue related to the fishing sector, but it is also a public health and social justice issue. Eradicating it requires sustainable investments in women's economic empowerment, HIV prevention, promotion of community accountability, and protection of human rights.".

Women's economic empowerment

Many women working in the fishing sector realize that gender equality cannot be achieved without real economic empowerment. Many of them see that expanding their businesses requires capital investment, which they affirm is a fundamental need.

Zaya said, “It's not enough to tell women to be strong. They need capital investment. When a woman is financially stable, her husband will realize that leaving her is not easy because she has enough resources to support herself.”.

Levison Kondei, 45, who has been fishing since 2010, said, “If we want to develop our business, we need funding. Our boats need fuel, and the women who work in fish processing and trading need modern ovens for drying fish.”.

Mawellukumo explained that women continue to suffer from weak capital investments and limited access to information related to the fishing sector, as well as the persistence of customs and traditions that hinder their participation, in addition to their weak representation in decision-making positions.

However, he lauded the bold steps taken by some women to invest in the pharmaceutical sector, emphasizing that this proves women's ability to change reality.

A 2021 study indicated that women earning income from the fisheries value chain have greater opportunities for savings and credit, and also possess greater bargaining power within the household.

Participation in fishing sector projects over the past years has also contributed to many women transitioning from working as small-scale traders to owning boats and fishing nets, through local cooperatives.

These projects have enabled a larger number of women in Malawi to own fishing equipment; some statistics indicate that 5% of women own fishing equipment, while the Fisheries Department asserts that the actual percentage is higher than that.

A five-year project funded by the African Development Bank, which concluded in December 2025, contributed to improving the economic conditions of approximately 20,000 fisherwomen and women entrepreneurs, with women making up half of the beneficiaries.

Agnes Mkandawire, a resident of Ncwera Fish Landing Site in Tumbwe, said: “I have benefited a lot from this project. Today, I own two boats and fishing nets, have built a house, and am able to pay my children's school fees.”.

McAndrew, who has worked in the fishing sector since 2012, added that women working in this sector “have been liberated from many forms of abuse, especially gender-based violence.”.

“The community realized that some cultural beliefs were hindering development,” said Patrick Zacchio, a fishing officer in Salima district.

He added that many women have become involved in fishing, fish processing, and trade, which has contributed to creating a more equitable environment that offers everyone equal opportunities, rights, and responsibilities.

Zakiou confirmed that “gender is no longer a factor in determining who participates in fishing activities or related work.”.

Women’s economic empowerment also helps reduce gender-based violence within families and communities. UN Women estimates that approximately 46% women in Malawi have experienced physical or sexual violence, while 38% girls are married before reaching the age of 18.

Tamala Moenda said, “If a woman becomes economically independent, no husband will dare to abuse her. We have not only gained the respect of men, but also their support, because we now possess the means for a dignified life, which is reflected in the reduced rates of domestic violence, gender-based violence, and sexual exploitation.”.

Moinda owns a boat and a fishing net, and explained that she felt scared when she first started fishing in deep water with a crew of men, but she overcame those fears.

Mwalukomo concluded by saying, “What women are achieving today is clear evidence of their determination to improve their livelihoods. Although fishing was traditionally seen as a male-dominated sector, women have proven their ability to break cultural barriers and achieve gender equality in livelihoods and economic opportunities.”.