The Namibian Navy has intensified its fight against illegal fishing after successfully intercepting and arresting a foreign fishing vessel accused of operating unlawfully in Namibia’s territorial waters near the Angolan border.
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs Col Petrus Shilumbu in a statement confirmed that the navy’s flagship, NS Elephant, apprehended the vessel FL Yuan Yu 9818 on 17 May at approximately 10:40 during a routine maritime patrol in Namibia’s northern Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). According to Col Shilumbu, the vessel was allegedly involved in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities and was operating without a valid harvesting permit or quota allocation. Col Shilumbu said the interception took place at coordinates 17°14.98′ South and 012°42′ East, roughly 0.4 nautical miles inside Namibia’s jurisdictional waters.
The vessel was reportedly caught actively harvesting protected fish species while towing a fully loaded fishing net. Fisheries inspectors who boarded the vessel uncovered several alleged violations. Col Shilumbu confirmed that the ship lacked a lawful fishing permit and quota allocation. Inspectors also discovered a full net containing unreported fish species and established that the vessel had been operating inside a restricted fishing zone. “During the subsequent boarding and inspection, fisheries inspectors confirmed the absence of a valid harvesting permit or quota allocation,” Col Shilumbu said. “Additionally, the vessel was actively engaged in unlawful harvesting within a restricted zone and was found to possess a full net of unreported fish species.” Investigators further alleged that the vessel’s captain failed to produce a valid fishing licence during the inspection. Authorities also determined that the vessel’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) had been deliberately switched off prior to interception, a move often associated with attempts to evade maritime surveillance and tracking systems. The fishing vessel carried a crew of 22 men, including four Chinese nationals and eighteen Angolan nationals. The suspects are expected to appear before the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court to face multiple charges linked to illegal fishing and maritime law violations.
Shilumbu said the successful operation demonstrates Namibia’s determination to safeguard its marine resources through coordinated law enforcement efforts involving the navy, fisheries inspectors and other relevant authorities. “The apprehension of this fishing vessel unequivocally demonstrates the robust enforcement protocols established to safeguard Namibia’s marine resources, in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders,” he said. NS Elephant, which led the interception, is a Chinese-built multipurpose warship of the Namibian Navy. Construction of the vessel began in mid-2011, and it was officially handed over to the Namibian Navy on 3 July 2012 after successful sea acceptance trials. The vessel is primarily used to monitor Namibia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and support maritime security operations along the country’s coastline.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has praised the Namibian Navy for intercepting a foreign-flagged vessel suspected of engaging in illegal fishing activities within Namibia’s waters. In a statement released on Tuesday morning, the ministry expressed concern over the increasing presence of foreign fishing vessels operating near the country’s northern maritime border. Officials revealed that several foreign vessels have already been arrested and prosecuted in recent years for violating Namibia’s fisheries laws. The ministry also warned that Namibian-flagged and licensed vessels involved in illegal fishing practices would face strict legal consequences. “The era of plundering Namibia’s marine resources is over,” the statement read, reaffirming government’s commitment to protecting the country’s marine wealth.
To strengthen efforts against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, government is finalising a memorandum of understanding between the ministries responsible for fisheries, defence and home affairs. The agreement aims to improve cooperation and enforcement within Namibia’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
By Rudi Bowe
