Nyasha Nyaungwa and Ester Mbathera
U.S.-based marine scientist Dr. Vincent Pieribone has warned against the risks of pollution and overexploitation of Namibia’s offshore ecosystem due to oil and gas exploration, fishing, and diamond mining activities.
Pieribone, who serves as the co-CEO and Chief Science Officer of OceanX, a global ocean exploration nonprofit that operates the OceanXplorer – a research and media vessel for multifaceted scientific missions -said in a recent interview that Namibia’s vast and largely inaccessible coastline, rich in marine resources, is at risk of severe environmental degradation.
He cautioned against the potential damage caused by extractive industries such as deep-sea mining and oil drilling, emphasising the need for responsible resource management to prevent irreversible harm to marine ecosystems.
Although Namibia has yet to begin oil or gas production, it has become a key exploration hotspot following several significant offshore discoveries.
Major energy companies, including TotalEnergies and Shell, have reported estimated reserves of 2.6 billion barrels, with production expected to commence around 2030.
Notable discoveries have been made in the Orange Basin, with additional promising areas in Luderitz, Kavango, and Walvis basins.
Namibia is also home to the world’s richest known marine diamond deposits, estimated at over 80 million carats. These deposits account for the majority of Namdeb’s diamond production, representing 90% of its total resources.
“I grew up in Florida, where the economy was once driven by the ocean, but we destroyed it. Nobody goes there anymore—we all fly to the Caribbean to dive. Billions of dollars now go offshore every year because we spent 30 years destroying a beautiful coral reef,” Pieribone said.
“It wasn’t climate change that destroyed the reef—it was overfishing and pollution, and I witnessed it firsthand. That is a loss of value. A few people made money from fishing, but that money is gone, and so is the resource.”
Namibia has one of the few pristine coastal areas left in the world, drawing visitors from across the globe. “Namibia has a unique opportunity to preserve its natural beauty while also generating wealth,” Pieribone said.
“The challenge is to balance conservation with economic growth. Let’s see if we, as a collective, can keep the beauty while fostering prosperity. Namibia has this opportunity in its hands, and I hope it resists the urge to sacrifice the environment for short-term gains.”
The OceanXplorer, the flagship vessel of OceanX, arrived in Namibia on Monday as part of its mission to explore Africa’s oceans.
Co-founded by billionaire Ray Dalio and his son Mark, OceanX is dedicated to uncovering oceanic mysteries and sharing discoveries through open science and media initiatives.
The four-month “Around Africa Expedition,” which began in January, employs cutting-edge technology to study the continent’s largely unexplored waters.
The OceanXplorer is equipped with bubble submersibles capable of reaching depths of 3,280 feet, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for deeper exploration, and wet and dry laboratories.
Scientists on the expedition are focused on mapping uncharted ocean regions, studying seamount ecosystems, documenting biodiversity, and analysing bacterioplankton diversity and aerosols.
The expedition, which has already been to Madagascar, Cape Town and the Agulhas Plateau, will also make stops in various locations, including Gran Canaria, Cape Verde and Moroni.
All collected data, including genetic sequences and seabed mapping, will be contributed to global repositories such as Seabed 2030 and the UN Decade of Ocean Science.
The mission aims to map over 250,000 km² of Africa’s ocean floor, significantly advancing marine research in the region.
The Water Resources Management Act in the country of 2013 provides a legal framework for the protection of marine ecosystems from industrial activities such as oil and gas surveys, fishing and mining.
The law strictly forbids the pollution of water resources without proper permission and orders remedial measures for any contamination.
Wastewater discharge, wastewater disposal and other activities that could reduce water quality are regulated through licensing systems with strict monitoring programs to ensure compliance.
In response to potential emergencies in the environment, the law includes provisions for immediate intervention in cases of threats of water pollution.
The minister has the power to reduce water abstraction, promote emergency pollution measures, and require reporting incidents that could lead to contamination.
