Ester Mbathera
The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) has loosened its grip on regulating bycatch, allowing large fishing companies, particularly horse mackerel freezer trawler operators, to exploit the country’s marine resources unchecked.
This shift follows the removal of explicit bycatch limits in quota allocation letters, which previously included a 5% bycatch limit by weight of total landings in 2017.
That year, the ministry had also mandated observers on vessels, enforced area closures when bycatch limits were exceeded, and promoted collaborative research with Angola to manage shared stocks.
These regulatory safeguards are now absent, leaving fishing companies with significantly reduced restrictions.
A letter to quota holders seen by the Windhoek Observer dated 20 December 2024 only stipulates that the quota allocation and licensing are subject to the conditions and provisions of the Marine Resource Act of 2000.
“Standard conditions pertaining to your right of exploitation. Submission of value addition data on a quarterly basis and settlement of outstanding quota fees, by-catch fees and fund levies,” reads the letter.
The ministry’s 2024 data reveals escalating bycatch volumes.
Pilchard bycatch in the horse mackerel fishery increased sharply from 6 504 metric tons (MT) in 2023 to 12 610 MT in 2024, despite a moratorium on pilchards being in place since 2018.
The moratorium was implemented due to the unhealthy state of pilchard stocks, which had collapsed in the mid-1970s due to overfishing and unfavourable environmental conditions.
The situation has also affected other species.
Hake bycatch in 2024 stood at 12 833 MT, while horse mackerel bycatch reached 16,007 MT. Despite these trends, there is no set threshold to define when bycatch volumes become excessive.
In a presentation to the industry in December 2024, the acting director of the Directorate of Policy, Planning, and Economics in MFMR, Ndesheetelwa Shitenga, expressed worry about the bycatch trend.
She suggested that the high volumes appear deliberate, with non-target species being landed for their economic value.
Shitenga warned that the unsustainable management of marine resources could jeopardise Namibia’s Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, which is critical for access to international markets.
Efforts to seek clarity from the ministry have been met with silence.
The Windhoek Observer wanted to know if the high bycatch rate is not considered illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
This newspaper also wanted to know what punitive measures have been taken against vessels like Komesho, Tutungenj, Katanga, Carapau and Mediva Star for catching a high number of pilchards.
The Komesho vessel is the biggest culprit, with a bycatch of 2 528 in 2023 which jumped to 7 054 in 2024.
Under the Marine Resources Act, 27 of 2000, violators may face fines ranging from N$300 to N$2 000 000 or up to ten years’ imprisonment.
These regulations are further supported by the Government Notice 241 of 2001 regarding the exploitation of marine resources.
However, enforcement faces challenges, as the fines, set in 2001, may no longer serve as an effective deterrent due to inflation and the time value of money.
A study by Johannes A. Iitembu titled Observed Fishery Regulatory Violations in Namibia and Their Possible Implications for the Sustainable Management of Fishery Resources highlighted these concerns.
According to the study, the Marine Resources Act has extensive sanctions in place, but their effectiveness has diminished over time.
“The protection and preservation of marine resources are crucial for their sustainability, and it is essential to continuously improve the regulations and enforcement strategies in place,” reads the report.
The study’s findings further highlight the need for a revision of the MRA and its regulations to address contemporary issues and improve sanctions as a deterrent.
