This paper reviews the participatory fisheries management policy processes that have taken place in Malawi and proposes some key policy options for sustainable management of Shire river fisheries resource. The overall aim of the policy process is to identify and understand the factors which shape and affect the policy process by documenting and analysing the overall fishery policy environment that characterises the Zambezi basin with specific reference to Lower Shire fishery. This is due to poor performance of national policies with respect to such central issues as economic development and poverty. Consequently, it is likely that the benefits from utilisation of the natural resources will be threatened with overexploitation. This pattern of resource decline, which is common in some water bodies in Malawi such as Lakes Malombe and southern part of Lake Malawi and the Lower Shire River, will lead to competition and conflict between resource users thereby reducing socio-economic conditions and increased poverty. It is important to conduct a policy analysis to generate appropriate information that will be used to review the current fisheries policy processes at national level.