Inland fisheries in Namibia cover an area of 1 million hectares in total and contributed N$126 million to GDP in 2022, fisheries and marine resources minister, Derek Klazen has said.
In an industry address, Klazen noted that inland fisheries further support 250 000 Riparian communities in Northern Namibia.
“Rural communities in the northern regions derive food, income and informal employment from inland wild fish resources. These numbers demonstrates that we have stepped up and made essential contributions to the people of this Country, through inland and marine fisheries. In order to ensure sustainability and protection of our inland and marine fisheries resources, the Ministry conducts regular Fisheries patrols along and on waterbodies within the national jurisdiction as well as to make use of electronic means to monitor adherence to fishing restrictions in particular areas. These activities are undertaken under our Control, Monitoring and Surveillance programme aimed to deter, curb and eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities resulting in fines for offenders found to be violating the fisheries legislations,” Klazen said.
IUU fishing in Namibian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is of serious and increasing concern as IUU fishing undermines efforts to conserve and manage fish stock in all capture fisheries. The Ministry, Klazen said, will continue to strengthen its Management and control measures to curb and eliminate IUU fishing through collaboration with the fishing industry and our neighboring states.
“During the current fiscal year, the Ministry carried out nine sea patrol missions and 688 patrols along the coast. The Ministry further carried 35 Aerial surveillance missions, 39 River patrol and 453 patrols on land along the inland waterbodies.”
On a national front, the latest estimate from Namibia Statistics Agency 2022 shows that the fishing industry is worth over N$ 20 billion and directly employs about 18 000 people, while contributing 4.5% to Namibia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), accounting for over 14 % of export earnings.
These numbers indicates that fishery remain one of the significant contributors to economic growth, employment creation, nutrition, and foreign exchange earnings in Namibia.
“The success of the fishing sector is owed to the financial investment that we continuously make in resources surveys, environmental and coastal biodiversity surveys. These surveys are important for the Ministry in order to determine the level of biomass of the species and set the Total Allowable Catches (TAC) for the commercially exploited fisheries. Data collected under these activities is critical to the management of our resources and the conservation of our marine ecosystem.
“During the 2023 fishing season, the Ministry, through Cabinet Decision, allocated a Total Allowable Catch for six (6) commercially exploited species namely; Hake, Monkfish, Horse Mackerel, Seals, Crab and Rock Lobster. The Ministry however have set a zero (0)TAC for Pilchard, since the acoustic survey conducted in March 2023, indicated that this stock remains in an unhealthy state. The Ministry will continue its research programs to monitor Pilchard stocks closely and re-open the fishery once the stock has recovered to a biologically sustainable level. Additionally, confronted with a request from the fishing Industry, more recently, the Wet Landed Horse Mackerel Association requesting to be granted permission to conduct fishing within the 200m isobaths during winter, stating that with climate change, lower water temperatures are experienced earlier than before and that the larger-sized horse mackerel fish move to shallower water closer to the shore,” explained Klazen.
In order to ensure that the Ministry and the fishing industry Klazen noted that they are working towards a common goal, the Ministry conducts annual industry consultation meetings to discuss pertinent issues affecting the sector and reach concensus for sustainable fisheries management.
“I am delighted to observe that the fishing companies continue to contribute towards corporate social responsibilities (CSR). Most of the donations are directed towards educational programmes, community uplifting programmes like drilling of boreholes for the community, food donations, sports activities, the construction of classrooms, and the provisions of medical supplies.
“With regard to the Blue Economy Policy, the Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee on Blue Economy will be finalizing the policy during the current financial year. The Blue Economy Policy once implemented, will enhance effective governance and management system that sustainably maximizes economic benefits from marine resources and ensure equitable marine wealth distribution to all Namibians,” he said.