President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has announced that government is developing a new policy that will shift fishing quotas away from individuals and place greater emphasis on industry operators, arguing that dwindling fish stocks and shrinking quotas require a more sustainable and accountable approach to managing Namibia’s marine resources.
Speaking during her first Presidential Community Town Hall Meeting in Swakopmund on Friday, the President said the current quota system has not delivered the transformation originally intended and that reforms are necessary to protect the future of the fishing industry. “We are now with not enough fish to give the quotas, and the quota cannot belong to individuals. We are now bringing that to an end,” she told residents gathered at the Mondesa Multi-Purpose Hall.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said government had previously distributed fishing rights to beneficiaries across the country as part of efforts to broaden participation and empower previously disadvantaged Namibians. However, she expressed concern that many of those rights were later transferred or sold, undermining the objectives of the programme. “It went back to where we thought we didn’t want it to go back,” she said.
The President warned that the fishing sector is under increasing pressure from declining fish stocks, reduced quota allocations and rising unemployment in coastal communities. According to her, continued manipulation and transfer of fishing rights have complicated efforts to transform the industry and improve conditions for workers.
Her remarks came in response to National Empowerment Fighting Corruption leader Kenneth Iilonga, who called for fishing quotas to be allocated directly to ordinary Namibians rather than politically connected individuals. “We are tired of fishing quotas being given to ministers, presidents and their friends,” Iilonga said, while urging government to ensure a more equitable distribution of the country’s natural resources.
The debate over quota allocation has intensified in recent years as government and industry stakeholders seek ways to balance empowerment, sustainability and economic growth. During a fisheries indaba held earlier this year, calls were made for greater transparency, accountability and performance-based criteria in quota allocations.
Beyond fisheries, Nandi-Ndaitwah urged citizens to remain involved in implementing government policies they helped shape through public consultations. She also identified youth empowerment as a priority of the Eighth Administration, announcing plans to expand access to the National Youth Development Fund and encouraging communities to support youth-owned businesses.
The President called on all stakeholders in the fishing industry to work together to safeguard fish resources, protect jobs and secure the long-term sustainability of one of Namibia’s most important economic sectors. Photo: Namibian Presidency.
By Rudi Bowe
