Fisheries ministry issues 505 fines,registers 13 criminal cases

The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources says it has issued a total of 505 fines, and 13 criminal cases were registered at various police stations countrywide during the 2023/24 financial year.

This was revealed by fisheries minister Derek Klazen while presenting the budget motivation for his ministry in parliament last week.

The ministry is requesting parliament to approve a budget of N$321,4 million.

Klazen said the ministry in the last financial year has conducted nearly 2 000 patrols and inspections within the national jurisdiction.

The patrol and inspection fall under the marine and inland monitoring, control and surveillance programmes, which Klazen said requires N$100,1 million for proper execution.

“This programme is entrusted with the protection of the resources through ensuring compliance with the provisions of the statutory instruments, policies and directives that govern and regulate fishing practices using vessels, airplanes and vehicles,” Klazen said.

The ministry conducts patrols and inspections in collaboration with the military, navy, the police and private entities to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.

“As such, the financial resources required for this programme will fund the maintenance and repairs of patrol vessels, airplanes and vehicles to ensure availability for deployment and inspections,” the minister said.

OTHER PROGRAMMES

The minister said the largest chunk of the budget of N$321,4 million, being N$291,4 million, is earmarked for the operational budget, while the remaining N$30 million is directed towards developmental projects.

Klazen said the annual appropriation for the ministry will be executed under six programmes. These are, among others, survey and stock assessment, which deals with fish stocks through scientific surveys, requiring N$64,4 million.

“The data obtained from scientific surveys is used to determine the biomass of all total allowable catch regulated commercial species and marine resources, providing scientific advice on sustainable harvest levels,” he said.

Other programmes include human resources development, requiring N$70,9 million, aquaculture and inland fisheries, which needs N$61,1 million, policy and economic advice, which needs N$17,2 million, policy coordination and support services, requiring N$6 million.