Niël Terblanché
The Confederation of Namibia Fishing Association (CNFA) has strongly urged the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to reconsider its decision to auction fishing quotas, expressing concerns about the potential negative impact on the fishing industry and Namibia’s economy.
During the recent Annual Fishing Industry event where the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Derek Klazen addressed role players in Walvis Bay, Matti Amukwa, the Chairperson of the CNFA, stated that auctioning quotas to the highest bidder contradicts the provisions of the Marine Resources Act and may not be in the best interest of the government.
He argued that this approach shifts Namibia away from a rights-based system back to a vessel-based system, reminiscent of the pre-independence era.
According to Amukwa, the shift backwards disadvantages many Namibian right holders who are new to the fishing industry, as only well-established companies can compete effectively in such auctions.
Amukwa stressed that the auction system introduces uncertainty into fishing operations, likening it to a lottery where no one can predict how much fish they will secure in the upcoming season.
“Such unpredictability discourages long-term investments in the industry and stifles innovation in value addition,” he said.
He explained that once a fishing quota is won through an auction, the government’s ability to impose additional conditions related to value addition, employment, and social responsibilities is limited, as the quota becomes private property.
One of the main concerns raised by the CNFA Chairperson is the potential negative impact on job creation in the fishing industry.
Amukwa pointed out that the industry has historically sustained over 16,000 jobs due to annual quota allocations, which allowed right holders to plan their operations and investments.
“However, the introduction of quota auctions has disrupted this stability, making it difficult for businesses to predict their fishing quotas,” he said.
Amukwa stressed the importance of value addition and long-term investments, particularly for the youth, to create jobs in the industry.
He noted that achieving job creation targets in the fishing sector would be challenging given the unpredictability introduced by the auctioning of quotas.
Amukwa called for policy coherence and clarity on whether Namibia will continue with a rights-based system for quota allocation or transition to a quota auction system.
He urged the government to provide guidance on this matter to address the concerns raised by the CNFA and ensure the sustainability and growth of the fishing industry in Namibia.
The CNFA’s opposition to fishing quota auctions accentuates the ongoing debate and challenges facing Namibia’s fishing sector as it seeks to balance economic growth with social and environmental considerations.
