Consultative Workshop: Ending the use of illegal Monofilament nets in Malawi and advancing Regional Action

Monofilament and mosquito nets are materials that are prohibited for fishing in Malawi due to their destructive impact on fish stocks. The challenge extends beyond Malawi. The use and distribution of monofilament nets is a regional problem that is growing across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region in both marine and inland fisheries.

Addressing the challenge of monofilament nets requires collective regional action, particularly to harmonise legislation, strengthen enforcement, and disrupt the supply chains of those nets that are often smuggled across borders. The SADC Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC) is well placed to lead a coordinated policy initiative against illegal fishing nets.

Malawi has stepped forward within the MCSCC Operational Task Force (MCSCC OTF) to pilot approaches to deal with monofilament nets. This has provided an important pilot opportunity to demonstrate the urgency of the problem and the potential for region-wide solutions. 

As a first step to implement this, a consultative workshop on “Ending the Use of Illegal Monofilament Nets in Malawi and Advancing Regional Action” was organised on 27-28 October 2025.

The report of that workshop is available here: Download