Fishing stocks are okay

The status of the country's fisheries is healthy and sustainable, both in terms of stocks, and economically. “The total allowable catch (TAC) for various fisheries was 507 276 tonnes during 2017/18, compared to 521 714 tonnes in 2016/17. This represents a marginal decrease of approximately 3%. This fish and fishery products caught are valued at about N$10 billion, making fisheries the second largest forex earner for Namibia, after mining,” fisheries minster Bernhardt Esau told members of the industry at Walvis Bay on Friday. Esau said that the total landings by the fisheries sector ranged between 510 000 and 550 000 tonnes annually. Approximately 99.5% of these landings are from the marine subsector, whilst inland fisheries and aquaculture jointly contribute about 1 500 tonnes. The minister confirmed that the country had challenges with its pilchard fishery, which on average represents about 3% of marine landings and said stocks have declined in recent years. This necessitated the three-year moratorium, which he imposed in 2017, to facilitate recovery of stocks.“It is important to clarify that the challenges we are experiencing with pilchard stocks are historic.” The minister said that pilchard stocks were either entirely collapsed or near collapse in 1995, 2001 and 2006. “In imposing the moratorium, I instructed my officials to carry out detailed studies, including a determination of the role that our increasing number of seal colonies play on mortality of pilchards and measures that need to be taken to contain the situation.”Hake, with average landings of about 140 000 tonnes, is also stable and sustainably managed. Esau said that the eco-labelling process of the hake fisheries through Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), which he announced in 2017, is progressing well and is expected to be completed in the next 18 months. “We remain confident that our sound management measures on this fishery, which are based on international best practises, will be affirmed during this eco-labelling process, and that our hake will benefit from the anticipated increased market access arising from this certification.”Horse mackerel landings constituted about 65% of the total landings, at about 330 000 tonnes annually and according to the minister, research confirmed that this species is being managed sustainably. The monk, lobster, crab and other fisheries stocks, which are harvested in smaller quantities compared to the first two, have been demonstrated to be stable and sustainably managed. OTIS FINCK

Fishing stocks are okay

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Namibian Sun 2026-05-11

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Fishing stocks are okay

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Namibian Sun 2026-05-11

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