THE 27 300 tonnes of horse mackerel freezer quota bought by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is yet to be harvested.
The DRC has already paid N$85,7 million for the quota. It has until 31 December to catch the fish.
Minister of fisheries and marine resources Derek Klazen says no extension will be given.
He says the DRC was informed about all the procedures and processes, including information on the end of the fishing season.
“The government of the DRC was duly informed of the end of the fishing session for the horse mackerel species, which the DRC government has purchased. The same government has put measures in place to ensure they will catch all the tonnes before the end of the fishing season, which is 31 December 2021,” he says.
Klazen says the total allowable catch (TAC) cannot be rolled over to the next fishing season, because it depends on scientific research and advice on the state of the biomass of the species.
“Therefore a rollover would have a negative impact on the TAC,” he says.
A source in diplomatic circles says it would be irresponsible for Namibia not to roll the TAC over to the 2022 fishing season, because of the diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Founding president Sam Nujoma has always stressed that the DRC is a foreign policy priority for Namibia.
“Namibia needs the DRC as it has so much potential in terms of raw material, wealth, and cheap hydropower it can produce from the grand Inga hydropower project.
“We can expect the president to give a silent instruction for the TAC to be carried over to the 2022 fishing season,” the source says.
It is not clear whether any fishing vessel would take up the responsibility if the TAC is not rolled over.
