Namibia suffers annual revenue loss of N$1.5B due to rampant illegal fishing

NAMIBIA – The Namibian Minister of Fisheries, Derek Klazen, has voiced deep concern over the escalating issue of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing along the country’s coastal line.

According to Klazen the unabated plundering of Namibia’s marine resources poses a significant threat, with neighboring countries also implicated in these illicit activities both inland and at sea.

Speaking to the fishing industry, the minister underscored the persistent challenges posed by both coastal and inland illegal activities, labeling them as a substantial headache for the government.

“The impact of illegal fishing extends beyond immediate revenue loss, disrupting sustainable management systems established for the harvesting and safeguarding of natural resources,” he said.

In addition, Klazen expressed profound concern about the involvement of citizens from neighboring countries in illegal fishing and announced plans to engage counterparts in harmonizing laws and enforcement measures.

“We have received alarming reports of an increase in incidents linked to or potentially linked to IUU at our northern coastal border.”

Meanwhile, in response to the escalating issue, the ministry has decided to allocate up to 50% of its control, monitoring, and surveillance sea operations to the northern border with the Republic of Angola.

The minister expressed optimism that these efforts will result in a tangible reduction in IUU fishing activities.

Notably, the Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations (CNFA) disclosed that Namibia is hemorrhaging over N$1.5 billion annually due to IUU fishing activities.

According to CNFA chairperson Matti Amukwa, six or seven foreign trawlers allegedly operating under Angolan licenses harvest over 100,000 tonnes of fish in Namibia’s northern waters each year.

Amukwa urgently called for intervention to halt illegal fishing, stressing the need for immediate action against well-known IUU vessels.

He emphasized that relying on other countries’ governments is insufficient to combat the pilferage of Namibia’s resources.

Illegal fishing in Namibia’s northern waters has persisted since 2015, with a 2017 report on IUU by the ministry concluding that combating IUU requires deploying monitoring, control, and surveillance platforms at and around the northern maritime border.

“Foreign vessels, predominantly harvesting horse mackerel, disregard the 200m isobath line, resulting in the capture of other species such as hake, kingklip, and dentex,” the report highlighted.

“These illicitly caught fish are not considered in determining the total allowable catch (TAC) for quota species, posing a risk of overfishing and fishery collapse.”

According to the ministry, Namibia faces a critical juncture in addressing IUU fishing, with government and industry stakeholders collaborating to safeguard the country’s valuable marine resources.

The ongoing efforts aim to ensure the sustainability of aquatic living resources and uphold the credibility of Namibia’s fishery sector.