SUBSISTENCE fishing from thousands of dugout canoes along southern African lakes is threatening stocks and the livelihood of communities, a senior Southern African Development Community (SADC) official said. “They are really hammering the resources until they are no longer sustainable,” said Shaibu Mapila, the Malawian co-ordinator of the SADC inland fisheries sector. Mapila was briefing the media after his sector discussed proposals in preparation for a SADC council of ministers meeting. He said the present trend of subsistence fishing close to the shore by communities was depleting fishing resources in such spots. “We are going back to the dark ages.” Mapila said this was happening while ample fish resources further offshore, which could be fished by motorised boats, remained untouched.