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Using multiple data collection approaches, this study demonstrates that current Lake Malombe fish stock fluctuation instigated by socio-economic and environmental conditions significantly impacts the lake ecosystem. The top-down management approach would not solve complexities that underlie human-induced fluctuations. The study further established that previous management approaches undermined the fact that fisherfolks have evolved to cope with the fluctuations. Therefore, the study recommends policy reforms, focusing on fisherfolks' evolution and alternative livelihood options.

Lake Malombe is ranked among the most vulnerable inland freshwater shallow lakes in Malawi. The lake has lost over US$79.83 million ecosystem service values from 1999 to 2019 due to rapid population growth, increased poverty, landscape transformation, and over exploitation-hampering the effort to achieve United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular, life underwater (SDG 14), life on land (SDG 15), climate action (SDG 13), and no poverty (SDG 1) and Aichi Biodiversity Targets. In line with the 2021–2030 United Nations' Declaration on massive upscaling of the ecosystems restoration effort, this study applied the contingent valuation method (CVM) and binary logistic regression model to determine the public's willingness to pay (WTP) for ecosystem restoration and the influencing factors. The aim was to integrate science into policy framework to achieve a sustainable flow of ecosystem services (ESs). Qualitative data were collected by employing focus group discussion, key informant interviews, and field observation. Quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires covering 420 households. The results revealed that 56% of the respondents were willing to pay an average of US$28.42/household/year. These respondents believed that the initiative would improve lake ESs, fish biodiversity, income level, water quality and mitigate climate change impact. Age, gender, literacy, income, social trust, institutional trust, access to extension services, period stay in the area, household distance from the lake, lake ecological dynamics impact, having the hope of reviving the lake health ecological status, perception of having lake ecological restoration program, participation in lake restoration program, access to food from the lake, involved in fishing and Lake Malombe primary livelihood sources significantly (p < 0.05) influenced WTP. This study provides a reference point to policymakers to undertake cost-benefit analysis and develop a practical policy response framework to reverse the situation and achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

This paper presents a case study from Lake Malombe, Malawi. It demonstrates Lake Malombe fish stock fluctuation and its implications on fishing community livelihoods. The main challenges that fishing communities are confronted with and their adaptation strategies developed over the years. This study’s findings suggest that Lake Malombe riparian communities are not regarded as vulnerable so long as they have access to fishing. Fishing supports their livelihood, but declining catches and other factors (siltation of the lake, climate change (heavy rain, drought, and heavy wind), increased mud in the Lake (IML), and lake level fluctuation) beyond their control also expose them to risks and vulnerability. The strategies on how they have survived over the years from the shocks and stress triggered by the decline in fish stocks from the lake are not sustainable in the face of increased human pressures and other environmental drivers. Therefore, an effort towards the governance of the complex socio-ecological systems in which fishery is embedded is required to understand the conditions that define fishers' adaptation strategies. The study further recommends that a combination of coping strategies should be developed to define the fishing communities' level of adaptive capacity and create flexible socio-economic conditions within fishing communities to generate a robust system that can deal with stress.