The total of quota species landed during the first quarter of 2024 amounted to 97 077 metric tons, a decline of 16,7% when compared to 116 471 metric tons recorded in the first quarter of 2023.
Horse Mackerel recorded the highest landings of 49 592 metric tons, followed by Hake in second place recording 44 630 metric tons. In third place was Monk that recorded 2 119 metric tons, the Namibia Statistics Agency announced.
Export earnings for ‘fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates’ for the quarter under review was valued at N$4,1 billion, an increase when compared to N$4 billion recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2023.
The main export destination for ‘fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates’ for the first quarter of 2024 was Spain accounting for 29,7%. The main product that was exported to Spain was frozen fillets of Hake. The second and third export destinations were Zambia (16,1%) and Democratic Republic of Congo (14,1%). The main products that were exported to both countries were horse mackerel.
The import bill for ‘fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates’ for the first quarter of 2024 stood at N$154,9 million, a decrease when compared to N$167,9 million recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2023.
The report said products of ‘fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates’ were mainly sourced from South Africa, accounting for 35%, share for the quarter under review.
“The main product imported from South Africa was hake. In second place, United states of America accounted for 32,6% share. The main product that was sourced from this country was sole.
Spain was in third place accounting for 9,7% share of imports. Cuttle fish and Squid was the main product imported from Spain,” the report said.
According to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, fisheries remain one of the significant contributors to economic growth, employment creation, nutrition, and foreign exchange earning in Namibia.
The sector accounted for over 14% of export earnings that were sourced from fish and fisheries products valued at N$10 billion Namibia Dollars making fisheries’ contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Namibia at 4,5%.
Figures from the ministry show that during 2022 employment figures indicated that 18 105 people are employed on fishing vessels and land-based factories of which women make up the largest component of 64 % of employment in land-based factories.
