Patience Makwele
Namibia has protected only 1.69% of its marine territory, despite committing to an international target requiring countries to place at least 30% of their oceans under conservation by 2030, according to agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform minister, Inge Zaamwani.
The disclosure has highlighted a growing challenge for a country that depends heavily on the ocean for jobs, food security and economic growth, while simultaneously seeking to expand its blue economy ambitions.
Speaking at the World Ocean Day commemoration in Windhoek earlier this week, Zaamwani said the latest 2026 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Target Tracker shows Namibia has made considerable progress in protecting land ecosystems but remains significantly behind in marine conservation.
“According to the 2026 UNEP Target Tracker, our conservation metrics currently stand at 39.92% for terrestrial areas and 1.69% for marine areas. This means we need to do more in terms of marine areas,” she said.
Namibia is a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity’s “30 by 30” target, which commits countries to conserving at least 30% of land, inland waters, coastal areas and marine ecosystems by 2030.
With less than five years remaining before the deadline, the figures suggest Namibia faces a substantial gap in meeting its marine conservation commitments.
Zaamwani said the ministry has already identified ecologically and biologically sensitive areas (EBSAs) and is working towards formally declaring some of them protected areas.
The revelation comes as Namibia increasingly positions itself as a regional leader in ocean-based economic development through fisheries, marine tourism, shipping and offshore oil and gas exploration.
Fisheries expert Frederik Rudolf van Dyk warned that Namibia’s marine protection figures should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers and industry stakeholders.
“The fact that only 1.69% of Namibia’s marine territory is currently protected should concern everyone with an interest in the long-term sustainability of our ocean economy. Namibia has built one of the most successful fisheries management systems in Africa, but conservation and fisheries management are not the same thing,” he said.
Van Dyk explained that while fisheries regulations focus on controlling catches, marine protected areas play a different role by safeguarding critical habitats, breeding grounds and vulnerable ecosystems.
“If we continue relying solely on fisheries regulations without expanding marine conservation areas, we risk weakening the ecological foundations that support the industry itself. Conservation should not be viewed as an obstacle to economic development but rather as an investment in the future productivity of our marine resources,” he said.
According to data from the Namibia Statistics Agency, the fishing industry contributed 4.1% to Namibia’s gross domestic product in 2024 and supported more than 19,000 jobs, with approximately 71% of those positions based in onshore processing activities.
Zaamwani said these figures highlight the importance of protecting the marine environment that sustains the industry.
“The ocean is Earth’s primary life-support system; it regulates our climate, generates over half of our oxygen and sustains billions of livelihoods,” she said.
The minister noted that Namibia has implemented a number of measures aimed at ensuring sustainable fisheries management, including annual scientific biomass assessments, total allowable catch limits for commercially important species, seasonal closures, mesh-size regulations and bycatch management systems.
The government has also adopted an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management and continues to work with Angola and South Africa through the Benguela Current Convention to strengthen regional ocean governance and monitor shared fish stocks.
However, Van Dyk warned that Namibia’s marine environment faces increasing pressure from climate change, warming sea temperatures, pollution and expanding industrial activity.
“The ocean is under growing pressure from climate change, shipping activities, pollution and the expansion of offshore industries, including oil and gas exploration. These pressures are cumulative and can have long-term consequences if they are not properly managed,” he said.
He warned that environmental degradation could eventually affect fish productivity, employment, food security and government revenue generated from marine resources.
“Protecting ocean ecosystems is directly linked to protecting livelihoods. If marine ecosystems deteriorate, the consequences will not only be environmental but also economic,” he added.
Despite the challenges, Van Dyk believes Namibia can still make significant progress towards achieving the 30% conservation target if urgent action is taken.
“Achieving 30% marine protection by 2030 will be challenging, but it is not impossible. The country has already identified several ecologically and biologically sensitive areas, which provides an important starting point. What is needed now is political commitment, accelerated designation processes, adequate funding and stronger collaboration between government, scientists, industry and coastal communities,” he said.
“The next few years will be critical. If Namibia acts decisively, it can strengthen marine conservation while maintaining a productive fishing industry and advancing its blue economy ambitions. However, if action is delayed, the gap between our international commitments and actual protection levels will become increasingly difficult to close.”
Zaamwani said protecting the ocean is not only an environmental responsibility but a necessity for future generations.
“This is why it is important that we protect it and keep it pollution-free so that it can sustain us for generations to come,” she said.
