Maldeco Fisheries
=================

Maldeco Fisheries was established in the 1950s by the Yiannakis family at Mangochi in the Southern lakeshore. It was acquired first by Malawi Development Corporation (MDC) in 1968 and then the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) in 1985. ADMARC sold the company to Press Corporation Limited in 1989. The company currently has 190 employees.

Fish provides over 60% of the animal protein dietary intake of Malawians and over 40% of the total protein supply of vulnerable poor households. Maldeco's role in the supply of animal protein in Malawi is thus very significant. In fulfilling this role Maldeco works very closely with the Department of Fisheries on resource conservation methods.

Maldeco Fisheries is the largest commercial fishing and processing company in Malawi and fishes using three stern trawlers. Maldeco's annual catch amounts to over 70% of the total commercial catch and about 7% of the total Lake Malawi catch, which fluctuates between 26,000 tonnes and 47,000 tonnes annually. Maldeco's major catches are the haplochromines, with ndunduma (diplotaxodon spp) contributing 60 - 70% of the total annual catch. Tilapiines catches have been falling and are now at their lowest point ever. Chambo (oreochromis karongae), once the most popular fish in the lake for example and famed in cuisine, is presently not targeted by Maldeco Fisheries at all.

Maldeco operates a fish processing plant which has freezing and cold storage facilities and three ice plants. There is also a smoking kiln for chambo and kampango (bagrus meridionalis) fillets.

Maldeco's main product is fresh fish representing over 90% of sales with only 10% processed including smoked, frozen gutted and frozen fillets. Sales of dried fish are declining rapidly. Maldeco's name is synonymous with quality because the company's fish is always fresh - cooled with ice and delivered straight from the trawlers. Other suppliers do not have such a cool chain.

The distribution system for Maldeco is such that approximately 65% of its fish is sold in Lilongwe and Blantyre. The balance is sold in Zomba, Nchalo and Kasungu. The company operates shops in these areas and the shops are serviced using refrigerated trucks. The shops sell both retail and wholesale. The major wholesale customers are vendors who buy for re-sale elsewhere.

Maldeco Fisheries, albeit a profitable subsidiary of Press Corporation, does not satisfy present demand for its products. To meet that Maldeco is building a new landing site and processing plant in Salima, some 200 kilometres north of the current Maldeco base at Mangochi. A new fishing vessel is being built in Durban, South Africa for this site.

Annual Report - 2004
Although catch volumes grew almost by 22% over the previous year; the type and quality of fish caught was rather poor, and this rendered the profit achieved for the period to be almost identical to that of the previous year. Chambo catches remained poor.

A feasibility study was commenced during the period and is still underway to determine the development of a new fish-landing site in the Salima area. If successful, this would allow trawl fishing higher up the lake and reduce total dependency on the southern end of the lake as is the case now. Fishing trials conducted in the Salima area look very promising.

Annual Report - 2005
The division had a very good year last year, largely due to improvements in fish handling processes, which enabled most fish to be sold fresh and thereby preserve good sales values. In addition, there was a significant improvement in catches, which was occasioned by the abundant availability of the ndunduma specie. However, catches of the prized Chambo remained poor.

So far, Maldeco fisheries have concentrated its fishing program mostly in the southern part of the Lake. A project to expand trawl-fishing further up Lake Malawi, through the development of a fish-landing site in Salima, is underway and progressing well.

Go Back