The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform will this week meet with fishing industry players to iron out concerns over the recently imposed bycatch rules.
The decision by Cabinet has been met with mixed feelings by operators, who question why they were not consulted before implementation.
The new rules set a stricter 2% bycatch threshold, with operators exceeding this level compelled to surrender excess catches to the state.
The ministry has also increased bycatch fee rates from 15% to 50%, as provided for under the Marine Resources Act of 2000.
While the government says the measures are essential to protect fish stocks, some operators argue they were caught off guard.
“The industry has been crying for help for a long time in many ways to the ministry to attend to our challenges,” Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations chairperson Matti Amukwa said recently.
He stressed that while the industry supports sustainable management, regulations must be developed in consultation with stakeholders.
Minister Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi on Wednesday during the opening of the three-day consultations with industry players defended the new measures, saying bycatch management was crucial for safeguarding the ecological balance of the marine environment.
She stressed that habitual offenders could face severe penalties, including licence revocations, quota deductions, confiscation of vessels, and even being named on an annual public list of violators.
“We want to ensure that operators do not profit from unsustainable practices while promoting compliance and responsible fishing behaviour,” the minister said.
With regards to the government objective quota, which allocates fishing rights to support national priorities such as education, food security and infrastructure, Zaamwani-Kamwi acknowledged long-standing industry criticism.
She confirmed that the framework was under review, promising a system that will be more balanced, transparent and fair, while still addressing Namibia’s developmental goals.
Deputy executive director in the ministry Ueritjiua Kauaria echoes this concern, questioning the motives of those who consistently exceed bycatch limits.
“If a person is found to have been catching bycatch that exceeds their actual catch, where do you think that puts the ministry? Is it just a coincidence? Or is it an unsustainable practice? These are the difficult questions we must face,” he notes.
– Nampa
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