Charles Tjatindi
1 October 2008
Swakopmund — Government has since independence introduced a range of measures to control and manage fishing activities in the country. At the just ended aquaculture and fisheries conference here, Government through the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources re-committed itself to the advancement of the sector, through stricter control measures.
To date, the Government has set total permissible catches for all major species. The country's small pelagic fishery was given a zero total allowable catch (TAC) in 2002, and TACs in subsequent years have been restricted to between 20 000 and 25 000 metric tons, according to presentations at the conference.
The hake TAC has been continually and systematically reduced. In October 2007, a month-long closed season was introduced for the first time to protect juvenile hake and thereby reduce pressure on stocks. However, other stocks such as lobsters and horse-mackerel remain relatively stable.
"In order to rebuild fish stocks and lay the foundation for a sustainable industry, we had to drastically reduce total allowable catches when necessary.
We are endowed with a productive system, whose productivity has also negative consequences. We had to take sober decisions in order to secure the future of the resources and those dependent on it," Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Dr Abraham Iyambo told delegates to the conference.
Fishing licenses are issued to gain control over flag state vessels, and are a requirement to fish commercially within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Specific licenses must also be obtained in order to use Namibian flag vessels to harvest any marine resources in any waters outside the Namibian EEZ.
"One of the things we did in our efforts to take control of our resources was to focus on the monitoring and control of the activities of those who were given access to fish in our waters. We made crucial decisions that we see now have paid off and are bearing fruits. Now, our monitoring system is regarded as one of the best in the world staffed by our own experts, and operated by ourselves," noted Iyambo.
Systematic sea patrols are carried out, largely directed at ensuring compliance with fishing regulations by licensed vessels through regular at-sea inspection. Air patrols inspect and deter unlicensed vessels and monitor the movement and operation of licensed fleets.
The shore patrols ensure compliance by both recreational and commercial fishers with conservation measures for inshore resource. For this purpose, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has two patrol vessels and two aircraft.
Every vessel leaving the port of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz for commercial fishing is required by law to have an onboard observer. This regulation ensures both compliance and the vessel's capacity to collect scientific data.
A Fisheries Observer Agency was established under the Marine Resources Act and ensures increased capacity towards the sustainable utilization of marine resources within and outside Namibian waters.
Namibia's EEZ contains about 20 different commercial species consisting primarily of small pelagic species (pilchards, anchovy, horse-mackerel and mackerel) and lobster along the shallower onshore waters on the continental shelf, as well as large pelagic species that include adult mackerel, demersal hake and other deep-sea species (monk fish, sole, and crab) in the waters further offshore.
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