If US Person could scuba dive only one lake in the world, it would probably be Lake Niassa between Malawi and Mozambique. Known for its diversity of cichlids, it is a natural aquarium of beautiful fish. Once connected to the sea, the clear waters of the lake are home to over 1,000 species of fish, 95% of which are unique to Lake Niassa. But like most ecosystems, it is being adversely impacted by man. Mosquito netting donated to villagers for malaria prevention is being used to catch fish. The netting is very fine so it removes even the tiniest fish and eggs, destroying fish life cycles. When the netting is used for seining from the beach, the long nets are dragged across the lake bottom, destroying algae that forms the basis for the lake's food chain. Catches declined as did fish size. In response to a potential disaster, local fishermen have formed fishing councils to ban the use of mosquito netting for fishing and promote sustainable fishing techniques. Now the government of Mozambique is preparing to announce the establishment of the Lake Niassa Reserve, one of the largest fresh water protected areas in Africa. The World Wildlife Fund worked with community organizations and the national government to bring about this conservation success story. As one fisherman said, "but now it's like magic has happened: we catch fish big enough for ourselves and to sell in big markets." Help WWF create more "magic" in the world by supporting the preservation of wildlife and wild places around the world.[photo: mbunacichlids.com]