Namibia marks World Ocean Day

Namibia joined countries around the world on Monday to mark World Ocean Day, with government highlighting its efforts to protect its marine resources.

Fisheries minister Inge Zaamwani underlined that oceans are one of the most critical yet often overlooked systems supporting life on earth. "The ocean is earth’s primary life support system. It regulates our climate, generates over half of our oxygen and sustains billions of livelihoods,” she said.

“This is why it is important that we protect it and keep it pollution free so that it can sustain us for generations to come,” she said.

Zaamwani urged young Namibians to take part in global ocean programmes, including the World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council. “Only four African countries are currently represented and Namibia should be among them,” she said.

Zaamwani emphasised that government has introduced measures to protect marine ecosystems, including the creation of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) and the Namibian Islands' Marine Protected Area (Nimpa).

Additionally, Namibia is working towards global conservation targets, including the goal to protect 30% of land and ocean areas by 2030.

“According to the 2026 UNEP Target Tracker, our conservation metrics currently stand at 39.92% for terrestrial areas and 1.69% for marine areas. This means we need to do more in terms of the marine areas,” she said.

The minister said the fishing industry remains a key part of the economy, supporting more than 19 000 jobs.

“Data from the Namibia Statistics Agency shows that the fishing industry accounted for 4.1% of Namibia’s GDP in 2024,” she noted.

Furthermore, she added that the sector is managed through scientific assessments that guide catch limits for species such as hake and horse mackerel.

Zaamwani also highlighted that Namibia continues to work with Angola and South Africa under the Benguela Current Convention to manage shared marine resources.

She said the country’s Blue Economy Strategy is aligned with global efforts to protect life below water.

“We are mindful that successful implementation requires a comprehensive understanding of oceanic ecosystems and collective protective efforts, particularly among coastal communities.”

“As we celebrate World Ocean Day 2026, let us reimagine a new relationship with our ocean,” she concluded.