The appropriateness of ferrocement boats for small- and medium-scale fishing on Lake Malawi

Abstract

Although large numbers of ferrocement fishing boats are in commercial use in many developing countries, the technology did not prove appropriate in Malawi. The minimum viable size of these boats requires a higher level of fishing effort and management ability than is prevalent there. Acceptance of ferrocement boats was also hampered by negative demonstration effects from a defunct project that built poor quality boats, mishandling of the boats by Fisheries Department crews, questions of durability and safety, and government price controls on fish.