Namibia’s N$14 billion fishing industry is on the brink of a major overhaul, with government signalling tougher controls on fishing quotas, stronger Namibian ownership requirements, expanded onshore processing and automatic catch reductions when fish stocks fall to dangerous levels.
The warning came at the National Fisheries Indaba in Walvis Bay, where the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform declared that the sector’s diagnostic review was complete and that Namibia must now move from “national dialogue to reform.”
At the heart of the proposed reforms is a blunt reality: without healthy fish stocks, there will be no fishing industry to protect.
The minister said scientific research, stakeholder consultations and industry analysis conducted over the past four months had identified both progress and serious areas of concern, with some fish stocks remaining healthy while others are under significant pressure.
The government now wants biological safeguards entrenched in policy and law to ensure that protective action is taken before fisheries resources reach critical levels.
Under the proposed approach, clearly defined biological “red lines” would trigger immediate catch reductions when stocks fall below safe thresholds.
The minister also demanded greater accountability in fisheries decision-making, saying any government decision that departs from scientific advice must be publicly justified so that the industry and citizens can scrutinise it.
Government is also taking aim at how fishing quotas are allocated.
Companies that invest heavily in Namibian factories, local jobs and packaging could receive greater recognition under a reformed quota system.
The minister described onshore processing as a key weapon against coastal poverty and inequality, arguing that more of Namibia’s ocean wealth must be converted into jobs and economic opportunities on land.
The proposed reforms would also seek to align harvesting capacity with actual biological limits and restrict commercial licences to vessels with significant Namibian majority ownership.
Government wants the fishing sector to contribute more directly to national food security.
Targeted initiatives are being considered to make nutrient-rich marine products more affordable and accessible to Namibian consumers, ensuring that Namibia’s ocean resources do not only generate export earnings but also help feed the population.
The reform agenda comes as the Benguela Current ecosystem faces increasing environmental uncertainty.
Marine heatwaves and low-oxygen events are changing ocean conditions, forcing Namibia to reconsider how it assesses its fisheries resources.
The minister said climate information should be integrated directly into assessments of key species such as hake and horse mackerel, with ocean warming and changing oxygen levels factored into future catch decisions.
The government is also putting Namibia’s seal population firmly on the fisheries reform agenda.
While acknowledging seals as an important component of the marine ecosystem, the minister said their growing population and competition for commercially important fish species required closer scientific attention.
Government is proposing a balanced approach that combines conservation with sustainable commercial utilisation, where supported by science, law and viable markets.
Namibia is further committed to protecting 11% of its Exclusive Economic Zone by 2030.
The minister said Ecologically or Biologically Significant Areas could be transitioned into formally designated marine protected areas as part of efforts to safeguard marine ecosystems.
The government also intends to strengthen the fight against illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing through modern monitoring and surveillance technology.
With the diagnostic phase now complete, the focus shifts to implementation.
Recommendations from technical working groups are expected to be transformed into a clear reform framework for consideration and adoption by Cabinet.
The minister ended with a direct challenge to policymakers and industry: Namibia has the evidence, political commitment and sovereign capacity to reform its fisheries sector.
Now, he said, the country needs the courage to decide, and the discipline to implement.
By Rudi Bowe
