Four mackerel trawlers released – on condition

FOUR of the seven horse mackerel trawlers arrested in October for alleged contraventions of the Marine Resources Act have been permitted to return to sea on conditions set by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.

According to Chairman of the Mid-water Trawler Association, Callie Jacobs, all the vessels that were permitted to go belonged to Namsov Fishing Enterprises. The vessels are the Star Fish, Venus, Mars and Namibian Star, he said.He could not say what the Ministry’s conditions were.Jacobs said negotiations were in progress on allowing two more vessels, the Lazurnyy and Zamoskoreshye, to continue fishing for the remainder of the 2007 quota period, which expires at the end of this month.The Namibian tried to obtain comment from Namsov’s Managing Director, Jan Arnold, but it was said that he was on leave.The Permanent Secretary of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Frans Sheehama, is also out of the country.Eight of the ten horse mackerel trawlers operating in Namibian waters were arrested at the end of October and ordered to return to the Walvis Bay harbour.Fisheries inspectors had allegedly found devices used for dumping fish at sea on board the vessels.The dumping of fish at sea is illegal in Namibia.One vessel, the Desert Rose, was released immediately, while another, the Kiefskya Rus, absconded on November 9 and is still missing according to the Police.No formal charges have been brought against the owners and captains of the vessels yet.The vessels are the Star Fish, Venus, Mars and Namibian Star, he said.He could not say what the Ministry’s conditions were.Jacobs said negotiations were in progress on allowing two more vessels, the Lazurnyy and Zamoskoreshye, to continue fishing for the remainder of the 2007 quota period, which expires at the end of this month.The Namibian tried to obtain comment from Namsov’s Managing Director, Jan Arnold, but it was said that he was on leave.The Permanent Secretary of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Frans Sheehama, is also out of the country.Eight of the ten horse mackerel trawlers operating in Namibian waters were arrested at the end of October and ordered to return to the Walvis Bay harbour.Fisheries inspectors had allegedly found devices used for dumping fish at sea on board the vessels.The dumping of fish at sea is illegal in Namibia.One vessel, the Desert Rose, was released immediately, while another, the Kiefskya Rus, absconded on November 9 and is still missing according to the Police.No formal charges have been brought against the owners and captains of the vessels yet.