Corruption in spotlight at fishing sector workshop

The allocation of fishing rights and quotas must be guided by integrity, fairness and the public interest, not personal interests, favouritism or industry pressure, fisheries minister Inge Zaamwani has warned.

Speaking at the opening of a five-day corruption vulnerability risk assessment workshop on Monday, Zaamwani said fishing rights provide access to scarce and valuable marine resources, making their allocation one of the ministry’s key public responsibilities.

She said applicants spend money to obtain licences and that delays create an opportunity cost.

"If it will take six months before we can make a decision, then we know that we are failing in public trust."

Zaamwani warned officials to use their “time effectively” and not arrive late, leave early or conduct private affairs while at work.

“Every public official has a duty to serve with honesty, impartiality and professionalism. Efforts in integrity are not optional values.”

The minister said corruption prevention should not focus solely on government officials, but should also address the conduct of players in the fishing industry.

"The players must also know it is not right that they try to influence decisions in their favour," she said.

The minister added that the workshop was not about assigning blame or identifying individuals who were allegedly corrupt or involved in corrupt practices, but about improving the system where needed.

“If you compare [the system] to other countries, Namibia is still rated high, but there is always room for improvement. We cannot become complacent and start to become reactive,” she said. “We are here to improve the system and make sure that we avoid the failures of the system while we still have time.”

Lessons from Fishrot

Advocate Erna van der Merwe, deputy director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), said the fisheries sector is characterised by certain features that make it vulnerable to corruption.

“Our fisheries resources are becoming more scarce, and fishing activities and financial transactions often span multiple jurisdictions and involve numerous public and private actors," she explained. "Significant administrative discretion in areas such as licensing and quota allocation, combined with varying levels of transparency and oversight, creates further opportunities for risk across the entire value chain.”

She added that integrity in the fisheries sector is a matter of public and national interest.

“Corruption risks can undermine transparency, distort fair competition, reduce investor confidence, cause loss of state revenue and erode public confidence in institutions."

She said it is therefore critical to work together to strengthen governance frameworks and reduce corruption vulnerabilities in the fisheries sector.

“After Fishrot we now know that the lack of transparency and the secrecy in which the ministry responsible for fisheries then functioned facilitated corrupt practices and schemes and made detection far more difficult," Van der Merwe said.

She said government should consider publishing fishing rights, quota and licence holders and their beneficial ownership details.

Authorities should also publish total allowable catches and the scientific basis for them, limit discretionary powers under the Marine Resources Act, and join the Fisheries Transparency Initiative.

She said the five-day workshop would examine policies and procedures, decision-making processes, documentation systems, conflict-of-interest controls, stakeholder interactions and accountability mechanisms.

“Prevention works best when institutions take ownership of integrity reforms and when government bodies, law enforcement, oversight agencies, industry stakeholders and civil society collaborate closely.”