Coastal conservation boosted

Representatives of all the relevant law enforcement agencies are joining forces this coming holiday season to jointly stem the deterioration of Namibia’s coastal environment by addressing some of the key concerns including beach littering and irresponsible off-road driving activities.

Rod Braby, Coordinator of the Namibian Coast Conservation and Management Project (NACOMA), at a news conference recently at Swakopmund, said the visual presence of wardens of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) and Fisheries Inspectors of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources on duty would be ‘pronounced’ by wearing similar attire with the distinct wording: ‘Coast Watch’. Braby noted that the combined efforts have also been bolstered by focused training of law enforcement officers at managerial level from NamPol, MET, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Namibian Defence Force and the coastal municipalities to help improve the crime prevention and law enforcement efforts. A total of 40 representatives have been attending a weeklong course at Swakopmund during November.He said the training forms part of NACOMA’s Training and Capacity Building intervention, which started in 2009, aiming to equip staff responsible for Integrated Coastal Management with the necessary knowledge and skills.Braby also referred to the gazetting of the new Dorob National Park, the National West Coast Recreation Area between Sandwich Harbour and the Ugab River, which will happen in the next month or two. He called on visitors to the coast to start adhering to the regulations relating to game parks under the Nature Conservation Ordinance, and which will officially come into force in the Dorob National Park.MET will utilize an airplane to patrol activities along the Central Namibian Coast while the wardens will patrol the dune belt between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay on two quad bikes, provided by Dare Devil Adventures from Long Beach for the duration of the holiday season.