Failing fishing right holders face the chop
Zaamwani draws line in the sand
Fisheries minister Inge Zaamwani has revealed that a performance-based scorecard system, which could see underperforming fishing right holders not getting new rights in 2026 and 2027, is at an advanced stage of implementation.
Speaking at a recent fishing address in Lüderitz, Zaamwani said she truly believes that the objective, transparent system will help the ministry evaluate the performance of players in the sector. “It will also assist us when we begin assessing new right holders in 2026 and 2027. We will be able to use the scorecard performance measurements and say: you have been a right holder for 10 years, how have you performed? The scoring will not even be done by the ministry. It will be done by you; you will score yourself from one to ten based on the given criteria. If your completed score falls below a certain threshold, then the minister must decide what happens next,” she explained.
Crowded space
Zaamwani noted that one of the challenges facing the industry is saturation. “We need to make it fit for purpose and differentiate between those who are adding value to our resources and those who are not. This is a classical model of supply and demand: when resources become limited, you start to differentiate between those who must continue to play, just like in football. You have your 11 players, and somewhere in the middle of the game, the coach realises that two players are the weakest link. He substitutes them and brings in new ones,” she said.
She added that after 10 years as a right holder, those unable to demonstrate performance on a one-to-ten scale will face intense competition. “We need to work together to ensure that everyone reaches a passing mark to proceed to 2027. Those who make it to the end of 2026 will continue. But unfortunately, in the fishing industry, one cannot repeat. If you can’t go ahead, then you may have to exit. My technical advisors have told me that,” Zaamwani said.
Bycatch regulations under review
The minister further highlighted the need to strengthen bycatch regulations. “Bycatch management is part of our mission to reduce the capture of fish by operators not licensed for certain species. After several years of observation, we found that the trend remains the same, the culprits are consistently the same. We even know, almost lesson by lesson, which individuals are repeatedly responsible for bycatches,” she said.
“Therefore, we have introduced new bycatch regulations that will require the surrender of any catch exceeding the allowed threshold to the government. No longer will this excess go toward profit. We will evaluate, and any over-catch above the threshold will be confiscated. We understand that sometimes it is impossible to avoid bycatches, but if you notice that in a certain area you are catching more kingfish while targeting hake, the responsible action is to pick up your net and move elsewhere, because you are not licensed for kingfish, or horse mackerel, or whatever the bycatch species may be,” Zaamwani added, emphasising that this is a very serious matter.
Industry pushback on bycatch rules
Four months ago, the Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations (CNFA) called on the government to re-examine its 2% bycatch stipulation and to act with the same urgency in addressing illegal fishing and fishing in restricted zones. Speaking at the launch of National Fish Consumption Day (NFCD) in Walvis Bay, CNFA chairperson Matti Amukwa said the industry met with the fisheries ministry in 2024 to discuss solutions, but no decisions were taken. “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.
Amukwa expressed surprise that Cabinet had later decided to limit all bycatch to 2% and warned that exceeding the limit would have serious consequences. He argued that the limit is unclear, questioning whether it applies per vessel, per species, or annually, and adding that it does not account for 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.
He further stressed that seasonal bycatch is unavoidable. “There cannot be a one-size-fits-all solution. Seasonal variations mean a vessel may land more than two percent of a species over a few months and none for the rest of the year. Various species just live amongst the targeted species and are impossible to separate until they are caught,” he explained.
Speaking at a recent fishing address in Lüderitz, Zaamwani said she truly believes that the objective, transparent system will help the ministry evaluate the performance of players in the sector. “It will also assist us when we begin assessing new right holders in 2026 and 2027. We will be able to use the scorecard performance measurements and say: you have been a right holder for 10 years, how have you performed? The scoring will not even be done by the ministry. It will be done by you; you will score yourself from one to ten based on the given criteria. If your completed score falls below a certain threshold, then the minister must decide what happens next,” she explained.
Crowded space
Zaamwani noted that one of the challenges facing the industry is saturation. “We need to make it fit for purpose and differentiate between those who are adding value to our resources and those who are not. This is a classical model of supply and demand: when resources become limited, you start to differentiate between those who must continue to play, just like in football. You have your 11 players, and somewhere in the middle of the game, the coach realises that two players are the weakest link. He substitutes them and brings in new ones,” she said.
She added that after 10 years as a right holder, those unable to demonstrate performance on a one-to-ten scale will face intense competition. “We need to work together to ensure that everyone reaches a passing mark to proceed to 2027. Those who make it to the end of 2026 will continue. But unfortunately, in the fishing industry, one cannot repeat. If you can’t go ahead, then you may have to exit. My technical advisors have told me that,” Zaamwani said.
Bycatch regulations under review
The minister further highlighted the need to strengthen bycatch regulations. “Bycatch management is part of our mission to reduce the capture of fish by operators not licensed for certain species. After several years of observation, we found that the trend remains the same, the culprits are consistently the same. We even know, almost lesson by lesson, which individuals are repeatedly responsible for bycatches,” she said.
“Therefore, we have introduced new bycatch regulations that will require the surrender of any catch exceeding the allowed threshold to the government. No longer will this excess go toward profit. We will evaluate, and any over-catch above the threshold will be confiscated. We understand that sometimes it is impossible to avoid bycatches, but if you notice that in a certain area you are catching more kingfish while targeting hake, the responsible action is to pick up your net and move elsewhere, because you are not licensed for kingfish, or horse mackerel, or whatever the bycatch species may be,” Zaamwani added, emphasising that this is a very serious matter.
Industry pushback on bycatch rules
Four months ago, the Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations (CNFA) called on the government to re-examine its 2% bycatch stipulation and to act with the same urgency in addressing illegal fishing and fishing in restricted zones. Speaking at the launch of National Fish Consumption Day (NFCD) in Walvis Bay, CNFA chairperson Matti Amukwa said the industry met with the fisheries ministry in 2024 to discuss solutions, but no decisions were taken. “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.
Amukwa expressed surprise that Cabinet had later decided to limit all bycatch to 2% and warned that exceeding the limit would have serious consequences. He argued that the limit is unclear, questioning whether it applies per vessel, per species, or annually, and adding that it does not account for 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.
He further stressed that seasonal bycatch is unavoidable. “There cannot be a one-size-fits-all solution. Seasonal variations mean a vessel may land more than two percent of a species over a few months and none for the rest of the year. Various species just live amongst the targeted species and are impossible to separate until they are caught,” he explained.
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