Fisheries and marine resources minister, Derek Klazen has said that the estimated 6 125 tons of freshwater fish produced by Namibia’s fishery currently has a whopping value of N$230 million per annum and contributes massively to the livelihood of around 250 000 people.
Klazen further noted that that industry produces 45 000 jobs in comparison the marine fishery supply jobs which are around sixteen thousand 16 000.
Sadly, Klazen said, the decline in landings from inland fishery resource systems from 2010 to the current landings of six thousand one hundred and twenty-five tons (6,125 tons) is alarming.
“I am informed that the drop in our current landings is caused by various factors, chiefly amongst these, over fishing. As such we as a collective, urgently and decisively need to identify interventions to solving the problem of over-fishing as commercial fishing increased since 2010.
“We must bear in mind that our rivers and lakes are small water bodies and commercial drag netting will destroy our inland fishery. Also, we remain sadly aware that Policing of vast inland rivers with a handful of inspectors is near impossible. That is why I hold the firm view and belief that community involvement in the management of this fishery resource is crucial,” Klazen said last week at the aquaculture and inland fisheries internal consultation meeting in Rundu.
He further stated that he was happy to report that his ministry has just launched the National Plan of Action for Small Scale Fisheries in Swakopmund last month.
“This recently launched Action Plan reminds us that sustainable tenure and management of inland fisheries by communities is very important to safeguarding this precious resource against illegal commercial fishing and exploitation by outsiders, he said further stating that: “As some of you may be aware the potential of community management was identified way back in 2010 when the MFMR started the process to empower Sikunga and Impalila communities in the Zambezi Region, placing these two respective communities at the centre in managing their own fisheries. These first two community run fisheries were given legal status in 2016 with the gazetting of the first two fisheries reserves under sections 22 and 29 of the Inland Fisheries Resources Act.”
Since 2016 the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has perfected the procedures for the creation of community run fisheries management areas by developing guidelines towards the creation of such areas/reserves. These guidelines were now recently developed into a Standard Operating Procedure and a tool box to assist officials and stakeholders in the process of creating community managed fisheries areas. Also, in 2016 the minister for fisheries declared by gazette notice, 19 fisheries reserves with more than 2 500 hectare of inland waters under direct community management in the Zambezi and Kavango East Regions.
“I am delighted to report that great success was already achieved by Sikunga Fisheries Reserve with research indicating three times more fish inside the community managed fishery then outside in open access fishing areas. It is therefore very clear that the sustainable management and utilization of our inland fishery resource by communities is of crucial importance. Please continue with focused research towards management interventions that will help us to improve sustainable use of this scares fisheries resource,” he said.
Klazen also noted that since 2002, the Government of the Republic of Namibia made a commitment through the promulgation of Aquaculture Act, 2002 (Act No. 18 of 2002), regulations and policy to sustainable develop aquaculture sector in addition to sustainable use of inland fisheries resources for food security at household level.
“Until to-date, indications are that aquaculture did not perform as expected. However, marine aquaculture performed better with average production of 450 ton of shellfish and 280 jobs per annum mostly may be because of private participation and interest compared to average of 35 tons from freshwater aquaculture per annum.
“The Master plans that were launched in 2016 for aquaculture identified most of the stumbling blocks in these sectors. I am convinced that we are professionals with capacity to address the challenges facing the sector. From a layman point of view, there might be many questions which we need to answer to communities when compared to the investment the Government has made in this sector so far. I am pleased that this meeting will come up with a practical solutions and road map,” he said.