years. Certainly one of the trophies collected
was the red zebra, which was later named
Metriaclima estherae after Esther Grant,
Stuart’s wife.
However, after the initial success in
Mozambique, Stuart hit a brick wall
when he tried to get a foothold in that
country. Although he had sound plans
for a small lodge near Metangula and
had virtually secured a plot to put it
on, the local authorities had become
used to the big sums of money doled
out by large conglomerates from South
Africa that bought up the country for
its prime forest. The investments the
authorities demanded from Stuart were
always way out of the ballpark of a small-scale fish exporter, and he was never able
to establish any property in that country;
he had to rely on local permits to collect
fishes—mainly near Cobwé. A few years
ago he set a Tanzanian national up with
a boat, hookah gear, and fish-collecting
equipment in Mbamba Bay, but all that
resulted in was a few shipments from that
section of the lake.
In recent years, two other exporters
have established themselves in the
southern part of the lake, and they are
slowly eroding one another’s profits, since
the ornamental fish export
industry is
he had to rely on local permits to collect
fishes—mainly near Cobwé. A few years
ago he set a Tanzanian national up with
a boat, hookah gea e r, and fish-collecting
equipment in Mbamba Bay, but all that
resulted in was a few shipments from that
section of the lake.
In recent years, two other exporters
have established themselves in the
southern part of the lake, and they are
slowly eroding one another’s profits, since
the ornamental fish export
in i dustry is
enjoying a Malawi cichlid aquarium if it
weren’t for him. Thank you, Stuart!
A failing heart claimed Stuart at the age
of 70 on October 11, 2007. His family
continues the business of exporting fishes
and hosting visitors who want to see these
creatures up close in their natural habitat in
the same spirit. D
a small-scale business. It was able to
support a single exporter in the heydays
of the 1980s and ‘90s, but it is now
bogged down by increasing restrictions
and ever-changing air cargo schemes.
Stuart was the right person at the right
place and the right time, and I sometimes
wonder how many hobbyists would be
Pseudotropheus socolofi at Mala Point in Mozambique was among the few species that James
Pindani managed to catch during his forays into war-torn Mozambique in the 1970s.
a small-scale business. It was abl ble to to
support a single exporter in the hey eyda da d ys y
of the 1980s and ‘90s, but it is now ow
bogged down by increasing restrictions
and ever-changing air cargo schemes.
Stuart was the right person at the right
place and the right time, and I sometimes
wonder how many hobbyists would be
en enjo jo joyi y ng a Mal alaw aw awi ci cich chli li l d aq aq aqua ua u rium um u if it i
were ren’ n’t fo for hi him. m. Tha hank nk you ou, St Stua uart rt rt rt!
A failin in ing he he hear art cl clai aime med St Stua uart rt at the ag ag a e
of of 70 on on October 11, 200 007. His is fam amil ily
continues the business of ex ex expo po po port rt rt rt r in in in in ing fi fi f sh shes es
and hosting visitors who want to see e these
creatures up close in their natural ha h bitat in
the same spirit. D
Pseudotropheus socolofi at Mala Point in Mozambique was among the few species that James
Pindani managed to catch during his forays into war-torn Mozambique in the 1970s.
