Small-scale aquaculture in Malawi holds great promise for economic growth and food security. This report summarizes key findings on the state of small-scale aquaculture, the challenges faced by fish farmers, and policy recommendations for its advancement. The study conducted a farm-level survey in 2021, covering 732 farms across 10 Malawian districts. These districts spanned the Northern, Central, and Southern regions and included both individually owned and communally owned farms. The report revealed that most small-scale fish farms in Malawi used earthen ponds relying on groundwater. These farms had an average of 1.4 ponds and about 73.2% practiced continuous production. Many farms integrated aquaculture with crops (43.5%) or livestock (15.6%). However, technological adoption was limited, with few farms owning advanced equipment. Commonly stocked fish species included chilunguni, makumba, and chambo, with stocking densities averaging 3.6 fingerlings/square meter. The use of mixed-sex fingerlings raised concerns about uncontrolled reproduction and overcrowding. The report highlighted challenges such as the lack of commercial inputs, suboptimal fertilization practices, and the impact of diseases like Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS) on fish harvesting. While the average fish harvest per farm over a reference period was 184.5 kg, 75.9% of farms harvested less than 100 kg. Larger farms, constituting just 7.8% of the total, contributed significantly to the overall fish harvest value. Despite these challenges, the analysis indicated that small-scale fish farming was generally profitable, with modest gross margins per pond. The average profit per typical pond (299.5 m2) was MK 97,041, equivalent to approximately USD 3,888 per hectare. Profitability varied by species, region, farm size, ownership type (individual vs. communal), and production system, with fingerling production showing significantly higher margins. The study underscored the potential of small-scale aquaculture to enhance farmers' livelihoods through income and dietary diversification. Fish farming contributed an estimated 21.0% to household income in individually owned fish farms, and many respondents considered it "extremely important" in their livelihoods. To further promote small-scale aquaculture in Malawi, the report offered recommendations: 1. Enhancing the availability of high-quality, locally manufactured fish feed. 2. Promoting best practices in fish farm management. 3. Certifying hatchery operators to ensure quality fingerlings. 4. Developing protocols for fish feed production and hatchery operations. 5. Encouraging integration of fish farming with other agricultural activities. 6. Improving access to credit for small-scale fish farmers. 7. Engaging youth and women in aquaculture. 8. Investing in aquaculture extension services. 9. Strengthening fish farmers' associations and forming new groups. 10. Establishing guidelines for cage aquaculture. 11. Exploring cost-effective alternatives to fishmeal. 12. Promoting tree planting among fish farmers. These recommendations aim to address challenges and unlock the potential of small-scale aquaculture in Malawi, contributing to economic development and food security.