Lienette Goosen
30 April 2009
Windhoek — No more seafood platters, no fish with the chips. This might sound unrealistic but without proper research and planning, it could be the fate of the marine industry.
Examples abound around the world of fishing industries collapsing after the resource has been exploited beyond recovery.
Research to ensure the sustainable utilisation of Namibia's marine resources is therefore the main priority for the Directorate Resource Management within the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.
With offices located in Swakopmund and Lüderitz, the department strives to provide scientific advice to ensure that the numbers of our living marine resources are kept within acceptable levels.
Counting fish?
"No, not one by one, but with intricate research techniques and statistical models it is possible to determine an increase or decrease in numbers and size," says Chris Bartholomae, acting deputy director for the directorate in Swakopmund.
"Most research is focused towards the sustainable utilisation of our living marine resources. To give a practical example: it is an essential part of the information needed to establish the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the next fishing season. The TAC's for most commercially important species are determined on an annual basis and thus might vary from year to year. We therefore take care of the living marine resources for all Namibians currently and for future generations."
Bartholomae added: "Managing Namibia's marine resources without national, regional and international scientific collaboration is almost impossible. We have to liase and work together as our fishing waters are part of the larger Atlantic Ocean. There is no fence in the sea to protect our living marine resources and the exploitation of one particular resource for instance in two neighbouring countries without scientific and management collaboration will surely have a negative affect on its abundance and sustainability.
"This necessitates working together with our neighbours in Angola and South Africa as well as with research institutions and organisations such as UNAM, the Benguela Current Commission (BCC). We also have established international links with institutions in Germany, Norway, Spain and elsewhere."
According to Bartholomae, priorities for research projects are established through strategic planning to realise the aims and objectives of the ministry and Vision 2030.
"There are however emergency issues that surface from time to time and that need urgent attention - the most recent being the oil spill in Lüderitz. Another example would be the red tide event that caused a major rock lobster evasion between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay in March 2008," he said.
Never thought that science actually put the fish on your plate? Next time you stick your fork into that succulent butterfish chew a bit on this.
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