2% bycatch rules could harm jobs and industry, confederation warns
'There cannot be a one-size-fits-all solution'
The Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations has criticised a reported lack of industry consultations around the stringent new 2% bycatch restrictions.
The Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations (CNFA) has called on the government to re-examine its 2% bycatch stipulations and to move with the same urgency in addressing illegal fishing and fishing in restricted zones.
The association's chairperson Matti Amukwa made the remarks at the launch of National Fish Consumption Day (NFCD) on Friday in Walvis Bay.
Amukwa said the industry met with the fisheries ministry last year to discuss and seek a solution to the bycatch issue.
"At this meeting, no decisions were taken, as the ministry representatives could not provide answers to the issues raised, and industry representatives were left with the impression that further consultations would be held to finalise the matter," he said.
To their surprise, he said they learned through the media that Cabinet had decided to limit all bycatch to 2% and “threaten the industry with doom should such limit be exceeded.”
Amukwa argued that the limit is unclear, specifically on whether it applies per vessel, per species, or annually, and added that it does not take into account seasonal variations or species that coexist with the targeted fish.
“Every fishing sector finds different bycatch species, which can include those that fall under a quota regime and others for which no quotas exist, normally fish of low value," he said.
"Does [the regulation] refer to the total bycatch landed by a vessel or the bycatch of a certain species? Does the 2% limit refer to a vessel landing or to the catch over the year?"
Amukwa argued that there is seasonal bycatch that "cannot be avoided, resulting in a vessel landing more than two percent of the species over a few months, and thereafter no more for the rest of the year. Various species just live amongst the targeted species and are impossible to separate until they are caught."
He said "there cannot be a one-size-fits-all solution”.
Negative ripple effect
Amukwa warned that based on only the initial information, the association can say with confidence that the intended measures will paralyse vessels, significantly increase costs and negatively affect employment.
“Employees are the most important part of the fishing industry. When the government threatens the industry, it also threatens employment. We implore the ministry to consult the individual sectors to determine a bycatch percentage that suits that industry.”
Amukwa stated further that since this decision was made at “lightning speed”, the association expects the same urgency to be applied by the government when it comes to illegal fishing and fishing in the 200 m isobath zone.
“We expect that the government uses the same speed in making decisions to curb the illegal fishing on our northern border and to stop licensing commercial vessels catching inside the 200 m isobath under the pretext of doing research. Illegal fishing and fishing inside the 200 m isobath are far worse than the bycatch issue.”
He warned: “The resources we are trying to protect with measures on the bycatch are the same resources we allow to be plundered through illegal fishing and catching inside the 200 m by two privileged companies. Let us not protect the resource selectively, but do it across the board."
Transparency needed
On the pilchard issue, Amukwa added that the ministry announced the Cabinet had approved a 10 000 MT total allowable catch (TAC) for pilchard.
“We don’t know when the moratorium was lifted. We are interested to know to whom these quotas will be allocated, since all the pilchard rights have expired."
He added that "judging from how things have been happening lately, one won't be surprised if [those] catching in the 200m [isobath] will end up being the beneficiaries of the pilchard allocation."
Amukwa called on the ministry and industry captains to “talk, discuss and engage.”
“Whatever decision we take, whether in the public or private sector, the common denominator should be the well-being of Namibia and its people.”
The association's chairperson Matti Amukwa made the remarks at the launch of National Fish Consumption Day (NFCD) on Friday in Walvis Bay.
Amukwa said the industry met with the fisheries ministry last year to discuss and seek a solution to the bycatch issue.
"At this meeting, no decisions were taken, as the ministry representatives could not provide answers to the issues raised, and industry representatives were left with the impression that further consultations would be held to finalise the matter," he said.
To their surprise, he said they learned through the media that Cabinet had decided to limit all bycatch to 2% and “threaten the industry with doom should such limit be exceeded.”
Amukwa argued that the limit is unclear, specifically on whether it applies per vessel, per species, or annually, and added that it does not take into account seasonal variations or species that coexist with the targeted fish.
“Every fishing sector finds different bycatch species, which can include those that fall under a quota regime and others for which no quotas exist, normally fish of low value," he said.
"Does [the regulation] refer to the total bycatch landed by a vessel or the bycatch of a certain species? Does the 2% limit refer to a vessel landing or to the catch over the year?"
Amukwa argued that there is seasonal bycatch that "cannot be avoided, resulting in a vessel landing more than two percent of the species over a few months, and thereafter no more for the rest of the year. Various species just live amongst the targeted species and are impossible to separate until they are caught."
He said "there cannot be a one-size-fits-all solution”.
Negative ripple effect
Amukwa warned that based on only the initial information, the association can say with confidence that the intended measures will paralyse vessels, significantly increase costs and negatively affect employment.
“Employees are the most important part of the fishing industry. When the government threatens the industry, it also threatens employment. We implore the ministry to consult the individual sectors to determine a bycatch percentage that suits that industry.”
Amukwa stated further that since this decision was made at “lightning speed”, the association expects the same urgency to be applied by the government when it comes to illegal fishing and fishing in the 200 m isobath zone.
“We expect that the government uses the same speed in making decisions to curb the illegal fishing on our northern border and to stop licensing commercial vessels catching inside the 200 m isobath under the pretext of doing research. Illegal fishing and fishing inside the 200 m isobath are far worse than the bycatch issue.”
He warned: “The resources we are trying to protect with measures on the bycatch are the same resources we allow to be plundered through illegal fishing and catching inside the 200 m by two privileged companies. Let us not protect the resource selectively, but do it across the board."
Transparency needed
On the pilchard issue, Amukwa added that the ministry announced the Cabinet had approved a 10 000 MT total allowable catch (TAC) for pilchard.
“We don’t know when the moratorium was lifted. We are interested to know to whom these quotas will be allocated, since all the pilchard rights have expired."
He added that "judging from how things have been happening lately, one won't be surprised if [those] catching in the 200m [isobath] will end up being the beneficiaries of the pilchard allocation."
Amukwa called on the ministry and industry captains to “talk, discuss and engage.”
“Whatever decision we take, whether in the public or private sector, the common denominator should be the well-being of Namibia and its people.”
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