Omaheke warming up to fish consumption, sales show

GOBABIS – The Namibia Fish Consumption and Promotion Trust (NFCPT) at Gobabis said there has been favourable trends of fish consumption in the Omaheke Region, known predominately for its love of red meat.

According to Adelheid Kaukuetu, who manages the NFCPT’s fish shop at Gobabis, their sales of fish suggest that more people are warming up to the idea of consuming fish as a healthier alternative to red meat.
Although the trust was initially received with mixed feelings with many of the region’s inhabitants still preferring meat, the scenario has since seemingly changed.
“People have realised that fish is cheaper than red meat, and found out that it is as such a better investment and value for money to buy fish,” she told Nampa on Wednesday.
Amongst some of the initial complaints the trust received from consumers on the consumption of fish is that many of them did not know how to prepare fish, and that fish is “difficult to prepare.”
“It was not easy at first. Whenever people say they do not know how to prepare fish or bake it, I would give them recipes myself. Once they try them out, they soon find that it is a much better investment, and become frequent customers,” she said.
Kaukuetu noted that a large number of her customer base is small fast food business owners, who buy fish to resell it in their shops, although individual consumers also frequent the fish shop.
The ribbon snoek appears to be the best-selling stock, followed by horse mackerel.
Other stock available in the shop includes hake fillets, silver angel and the equally popular Jacopever.The NFCPT was established in March 2001 as per Cabinet resolution.
In terms of the resolution, the trust aims to promote fish consumption within the country by making fish more accessible and affordable to Namibians.
Namibia boasts 20 fish species which are commercially exploited, and eight species which are regulated through Total Allowable Catches. – Nampa

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