Windhoek — The decline in Namibia's fish resources is a result of environmental conditions and failed recovery of the resources despite conservative management strategies, says Beau Tjizoo of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.

"Warm events" that have occurred since 1995 have increased along the coast in recent years. This has led to the displacement and mortality of fish species.

Reporting to the ongoing meeting of the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) meeting in Windhoek that considers food security and climate change matters, Tjizoo said the recent decline in Namibia's copepods coincided with a drop in wind-stress trends.

The sardine stocks that peaked in the late 1960s at more than 11 million tonnes, have now registered a current low of less than 100 000 tonnes.

Tjizoo similarly reported that hake stocks have declined to about a fifth of the estimated peak in the 1960s.

Since the seal over-exploitation of the 18th and 19th centuries, seal stocks recovered by about four percent in the 1970s through to the 1990s. Fluctuations in the seal population are attributed to food availability and environmental conditions.

Tjizoo further reported on pelagic shifts along the Namibian/Angolan coastline.

Another victim of the changing climate is a vulnerable bird species, the Cape gannet, which has declined since the 1950s, following the trend of pelagic fish species.

He said the increase in seals has also become a threat to the survival of birds.

Another threat to the survival of birds is trawler and long-line fishing.

Project Manager of the Albatross Task Force in Namibia, John Paterson, said four of the 22 species of albatross forage in Namibian waters.

It is estimated that 100 000 of these birds are killed every day.

A study conducted by the task force showed that about 332 albatrosses were killed during four trips made to hake vessels.

Seabirds are attracted to fishing vessels for the offal discards, but are often caught up in fishing nets.

Paterson said the Namibian bottom-trawl industry has a significant effect on the survival of seabirds.

He also said that Namibia has no specific regulations regarding seabird by-catch - a by-product of fishing - and ways to reduce it.

However, Namibia has taken significant steps to reduce over-fishing and marine exploitation.

Dr Ekkehard Klingelhoeffer, of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, said the country has introduced stringent legal instruments to ensure controlled exploitation of these resources.

He said the country's rights-based fisheries management system incorporates an effective monitoring and control surveillance system that is realising the benefit of tighter control over fishing.

Klingelhoeffer said Namibia enjoys a high level of compliance with the laws and regulations of the fishing industry, a situation that is very different from pre-independence years.