| Fisheries ministry hosts conference to review marine management |
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| Written by Staff Reporters | |
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Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources will next month host the Fisheries and Aquaculture International Conference to review and evaluate the country’s fisheries management since independence.
Namibia’s fishing industry has been under international
and local legislators’ scrutiny for its laxity in legal matters and the
lack of development in the industry. Most of the country’s fish are
exported to other countries for processing and imported back as
finished products.
There have also been reports of foreign vessels coming to fish illegally in Namibian waters and some have escaped unscathed. But according to Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Namibia is the only country in the SADC region that has fully implemented a National Plan of Action on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. Recently Minister Abraham Iyambo told a conference on illegal fishing that illegal fishing was costing sub-Saharan Africa over US$1 billion per year. “This figure has drawn attention to the enormity of the problem,” said Iyambo. “Illegal fishing distorts fisheries statistics and trade thus sabotaging management decisions. This destructive activity also undermines fish conservation efforts and sustainability regimes.” Nevertheless, the next conference is scheduled for 24 to 26 September in Swakopmund and is expected to attract more than 200 guests from Namibia and other fishing countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and other parts of the world. A statement from the ministry’s permanent secretary, Frans Sheehama, says the general focus of the meetings will be on the aspects of policy, monitoring and surveillance programmes, stock assessment and the operational of the fishing industry in Namibia. “In a nutshell, the current fisheries management process in Namibia will be highlighted to direct the various approaches that are needed for meeting the future challenges,” says Sheehama. Some key international and local speakers are expected to address issues facing the Namibian seafood industry, with special reference to fisheries management, resource status, policy, product certification, licensing and other issues. Themes that have been selected for the conference range from Namibia’s marine fisheries enforcement programmes, monitoring, control and surveillance of rivers and freshwater bodies, non-compliance in fisheries and litigation process in the Namibian fisheries sector, trans-boundary management of shared fish stocks and environmental concerns, among others. An exhibition of Namibia’s aquaculture and marine industries will also run alongside the conference, the statement says. |
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